disney magic cruise reviews 2023

Disney Magic

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Traveler Reviews

A ship’s traveler rating is provided under license by Cruiseline.com , which manages one of the largest databases of cruise reviews and ratings by travelers. A total of 591 guests have reviewed Disney Magic , giving it a rating of 4.4 on a scale of 1-5.

Cruiseline Travel Rating:

Reviews by traveler type, most recent reviews.

Great time on the Magic

Aug 15th, 2024

We did this cruise to celebrate my 60th birthday with a few friends. It did not disappoint! We all had a great time and enjoyed the service Disney is known for. Only one day of rain but even then there we ample things to do onboard. Best entertainment options by far of any cruiseline we've done.

Traveler Type

The best Cruise we are ever been!!

Jun 29th, 2024

We have a great vacation. We repeat again with other Disney cruises

Family (young children)

Disney Magic Cruise is an exceptional experience worth every penny it cost.

Jun 25th, 2024

I did notify Disney Cruise via survey of the fly infestation on Lighthouse Point. If you were not part of an excursion Nassau felt like an outdoor shopping mall with many persons trying to sell you something on the street. We have visited Bahamas before as part of Atlantis and were not exposed to the town market area which was heavily guarded by security. We went right back on the ship and enjoyed a fantastic day onboard. Absolutely everything else about the cruise was excellent. Could not have been more pleased.

Family (older children)

4-6 cruises

Disney Makes the most out of an old, small ship.

May 1st, 2024

The Disney Magic is an old ship that’s obviously limited on space, things to do, and dining, but the ship’s been taken great care of, and DCL makes the most out of the space it has. The ship is packed with Disney magic and this trip makes me really want to try DCL’s newer offerings and see how far they’ve come, and if I were traveling with young kids, I would not hesitate to take them aboard.

lovely cruise, was only at half capacity since returning after covid cruise

Apr 25th, 2024

It was a Lovely ship. We loved the changing dining rooms each night. The decor in the dining rooms were lovely. The characters were easy to fond due to the ship being at half capacity since it was the cruise right after covid. We had a great time but still prefer Royal Caribbean

A long time ago

Apr 8th, 2024

It was pleasant. Food was good. Customs was an absolute mess. But it was a long time ago.

2-3 cruises

Not so good this time

Apr 7th, 2024

Did not get off the boat as planned and service and weather was not good. The only good thing was a few of the servers kindness.

The best DCL we had by far. Disney Magic is a really nice ship. Smaller than its biggest sisters, hence feels lot less crowded at Castaway. The crew we had was fantastic.

Mar 4th, 2024

Our favorite ship. We were very lucky to find Tony on the ship for the third time. The crew was awesome.

Not so magical

Feb 2nd, 2024

Our party of seven had its moments of pleasurable experiences, but we found the overall experience not worth the hype. Little kids enjoy seeing characters but their attention span to wait in line for hours just for a photo op is too much. Bigger kids would have more fun either at the Disney Parks or on a Carnival cruise - just saying.

Jan 26th, 2024

So...this should have been a 5-star review given the staff and amenities...food...design...all of that. However, they decided to do demolition in one of the kids areas RIGHT UNDER our room. So our days were full of hammers and saws and sanders and jack-hammers...and so were our nights. This may not have been "as big" of an issue for someone that didn't have an infant that needs several naps throughout the day...but ours did...so it was. The first night it went until 10 at night - until I called Guest Services and said if they didn't stop it, I was going down there myself. This continued the entire cruise (though only until 9pm the second night and probably 8 the following). It was unbearable. They admitted they made a mistake in allowing it to happen with the surrounding rooms booked, but the reality is, someone knew it would be more fiscally beneficial to just deal with the complaints after the fact - and ruin someone's vacation (which they don't care about obviously). I'm a big fan of Disney (former season pass holder at DisneyWorld when I lived in Florida)...but this was unacceptable. They did comp some stuff...but it didn't come close to making it right, as this our wedding anniversary - our first vacation in 5 years - our first big trip with our new son...and quite frankly, it ruined the whole experience for us and didn't come close to the cruise price + airline tickets + hotels + rental cars. They did offer 25% off our "next" cruise, but the experience was so bad - not really feeling that's enough. It's one thing to look back on it, but remembering how frustrating it was in the moment and not being able to get ANY relief...just can't forget that. I tried to be fair by judging each thing independently, but if there was an overall rating - it was get 1-star - and only because that's the minimum that can be given.

Disclaimers about ship ratings: A ship’s Health Rating is based on vessel inspection scores published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If a ship did not receive a CDC score within 22 months prior to the calculation of its Overall Rating, its Health Rating appears as N/A; in such a case, the ship’s Overall Rating is calculated using the average Health Rating of all CDC-rated ships within the cruise line. All ship Traveler Ratings are based on ratings provided under license by Cruiseline.com.

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Disney Magic

Cruise line Disney Cruise Line

• Galveston (Texas)
• Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades, Florida)
• Port Canaveral (Orlando, Florida)
• San Juan (Puerto Rico)
• New Orleans (Port NOLA Louisiana)

Disney Magic current position

Disney Magic current location is at North West Atlantic Ocean (coordinates 26.05768 N / -76.34256 W) cruising at speed of 10.6 kn (20 km/h | 12 mph) en route to USPEF. The AIS position was reported 12 minutes ago.

Current itinerary of Disney Magic

Disney Magic current cruise is 4 days, round-trip Halloween On The High Seas Bahamian Cruise From Fort Lauderdale . The itinerary starts on 09 Sep, 2024 and ends on 13 Sep, 2024 .

Specifications of Disney Magic

•   Itineraries
•   Review
•   Wiki

Disney Magic Itineraries

Disney magic review, review of disney magic.

The 1998-built MS Disney Magic cruise ship is Walt Disney 's first (oldest) liner with sistership Disney Wonder (1999).

The vessel (IMO number 9126807) is currently Bahamas- flagged (MMSI 308516000) and registered in Nassau .

History - construction and ownership

DCL-Disney Cruise Line is a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company (shipowner). The company was incorporated in 1996 as "Magical Cruise Company Ltd". Walt Disney also owns the Bahamian private island Castaway Cay (exclusive port of call - for Disney ships only) and an exclusive Cruise Terminal at Port Canaveral (Orlando Florida) . Disney cruises are marketed as "family vacations" and feature unique and exclusive activities, such as costumed Disney Characters, adults-only deck areas, dedicated facilities for teens, kids and infants-toddlers, signature (trademarked) shipboard facilities and activities, themed live entertainment.

The 1750-passenger ship Disney Magic provides some of the best sea travel vacation experiences. And just like all Disney businesses, the ship's primary market are families with small children (mostly kids younger than 8) - the major revenue provider for the Walt Disney company. However, on Disney Magic, you'll also find many passengers traveling without kids.

The ever first Disney ship, Magic was launched in 1998 to serve the special preferences of a new generation Disney package vacation fun fans. The Disney Magic ship design resembles the 1920's luxurious ocean liners, but what really makes this vessel worthy of its Disney name are all the Disney characters, special facilities, and unique fun activities on-board, along with the greatest kids programs at sea, the most Magic-al deck parties, and excellent service.

The CLIENTELE consists almost entirely of USA and Canada Disney cruise fun fans. The new Disney approach to children by age-related activities and specially dedicated onboard venues makes all ships mostly appealing for multi-generational travelers.

Disney Magic DRESS CODE - day casual and evening resort casual, meaning for men - jackets (no ties) and pants, and for women - summer dresses (no swimwear-shorts-jeans in the main restaurants at dinner). All Disney Magic 7-day sailings include one formal and one semi-formal night.

Disney Magic TIPS (totaling US $12 PP per day, automatically charged to guests' shipboard accounts), given to $8 waiters (dining room server $4, assistant server $3, head server $1) and $4 to cabin attendants. Additionally, a 15% gratuity is included on all bar drinks and onboard service areas.

Decks and Cabins

Most Disney Magic staterooms (877 total, in 22 grades) are 225-260-ft2 Balconies. The ship has 22 Suites, 362 Balcony, 235 Oceanview and 256 Inside cabins. The largest accommodations are Royal Suites (845 ft2 / 79 m2 plus 185 ft2 / 17 m2 terrace).

The ever-first Disney ship Magic boasts elegant Art Deco decorations of public spaces and a most affordable luxury in all its staterooms, of which even the standard cabins are designed as mini-suites (separate bedroom and living areas).

All Disney Magic cabins are designed with families in mind - some of the most spacious and most elegant at sea, and of course - with "Mickeys" everywhere. Cabins are quiet and offer comfortable privacy, appealing to both families and people traveling without youngsters. Even the standard Disney Magic cabins boast a separate bedroom and a living area (common to mini-suite accommodations of other brands), 2 beds convertible to a queen, the living room including a convertible sofa (an option for 3rd single bed); many cabins also have bunk beds (for a 4th person).

Disney Magic family cruise cabins for families of 5 have a Murphy bed. Plenty of drawers, a closet with sliding doors, a desk-dressing table, a smart HDTV, electronic safe bos, 2 portable "Wave Phones" (with texting capabilities and coverage throughout the ship and on Castaway island).

A unique feature of all Disney cruise cabins are the split-bathrooms ("bath and a half" configurations) - one with a toilet and a sink, the other with tub-shower-sink (the cheapest insides with a single bath 1 sink). Decent bathroom amenities (soap-shampoo-conditioner-lotion), a hairdryer.

All Disney Magic suites are located on Deck 8 and feature concierge service, deluxe design elements, huge Jacuzzis, better quality mattresses and large verandas (among the additional amenities are robes, slippers, and a vanity pack).

The boat has 11 decks , of which 6 are with cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Disney Magic dining options include 3 main restaurants with the most fun rotational dining scheme (whatever the restaurant, your table number is the same, as well as companions and servers), a traditional 2-seating (at 5:45 and 8:15 pm, the earlier cater to the youngest kids). The traditional "Lumiere's" restaurant is decorated Art Deco (French menu), the "Animator's Palate" boast special light effects and video LED screens, and the "Carioca's" is a Caribbean-themed dining room with the most fun waiters and decorated in beautiful bright colors (this restaurant is also available for breakfast-lunch buffets).

The Disney Magic ship food experience features ample portions (everything is on-board made), with several choices of salads and fresh vegetables, a great variety of seafood, meats, pasta, and naturally, a separate kids menu is available.

Casual dining onboard is called "Cabanas" (a buffet restaurant, located high up and aft (overlooking the stern, a great outdoor dining option). Deck 9 offers 3 fast-food stations - the "Pete's Boiler Bites", the "Pinocchio's Pizzeria" and the "Daisy's De-Lites".

Specialty dining options are offered at "Palo" (an adults-only fine restaurant (costs extra, located on Deck 10; reservations are required, it's a relatively small venue, so early booking is advisable). Italian (Med) cuisine, including superb fish and seafood dishes, the brunch here offers Champagne and cold buffet with seafood and meats, great salads and desserts, and hot made-to-order selections (eggs-meat-fish).

The room service menu is simple (cold sandwiches, salads, hot dogs, burgers, lasagna, pizza, cookies), the service is fast, and suite guests enjoy hot breakfast and dining room meals options. Free drinks (Coca-Cola products) are also available at meals and at the 24-hour drink pavilion (Deck 9 aft).

Follows the complete list of Disney Magic restaurants and food bars.

• Lumiere's Restaurant (471-seat forward Dining Room; with two open Dinner servings - 5:30 p.m.-6 p.m. and 8 p.m.-8:30 p.m.; on 7+ day cruises features Gala Dessert Buffet)
• Carioca's / Parrot Cay Restaurant (471-seat aft Dining Room with South American and Brazilian specialties for dinner)
• Animator's Palate Restaurant (471- seat aft Dining Room, animator's studio design, features favorite Disney-character dinner shows; serves complimentary drinks; Rotational Dining with two fixed Dinner seatings - at 5:45 p.m. and 8:15 p.m.)
• Cabanas (self-service complimentary restaurant with American cuisine, pasta, sushi)
• Pinocchio's Pizzeria (outdoor complimentary restaurant, poolside)
• Pete's Boiler Bites (fast food outdoor eatery; Lunch and Dinner)
• Daisy's De-Lites (outdoor fast-food eatery, poolside)
• Palo (116-seat Italian specialty restaurant; adults-only, reservation-only; aft location; bookings via the internet or on board).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

The Disney Magic ship public rooms are nothing short to amazing. The "Walt Disney" Theater has a capacity of 977 seats and offers live performances and huge Disney productions (like Broadway-style musicals and classy review shows) on a 2-deck-high rotational stage. The "Buena Vista" Theater is smaller (showing Disney movies). Most of the ship's public spaces are on Decks 3-4-5. The most famous are: the Promenade Lounge (family-friendly, great music), Studio Sea (game shows, exhibitions, karaoke), the Atrium (a great place to meet Disney characters for an autograph, the place for the Captain's cocktail party and for Disney pin trading), 3 shops (on Deck 4 are "Mickey's Mates" (Disney memorabilia and postcards) and "Treasure Ketch" (logos, jewelry, watches), and the duty-free "Up Beat" is on Deck 3 (perfumes, liquor). The pool deck's adult section has a coffee house - the Cove Cafe (specialty coffees, bar drinks).

Like all Disney ships, the Magic has no casino (there's bingo with good jackpots). One of the features that make the Magic ship a special place to be is the deck parties, the highlight being "The Pirates in the Caribbean" Party - a great, most attended by all age groups themed Disney ship cruise fun.

Naturally, most of the shipboard entertainment is Disney themed (like the goldies "Twice Charmed: An Original Twist on the Cinderella Story", "Villains Tonight!" and the "Disney Dreams") with all the feature Disney characters). And there are Disney movies, including first-runs (shown in the ship's two theaters "Buena Vista" and "Walt Disney") and Disney 3D movies.

In lounges and clubs, there are numerous family activities during the day - dance parties, bingo, pirate quests, shuffleboard and video games tournaments, all kinds of contests, pool games, family karaoke, dance lessons, talent shows. Between dinner times, there is a short family-friendly cabaret show, with its adult version after hours.

Most of the adult-themed activities are at night for guests ages 18-25, like "Match Your Mate", "Singles' Mingle" and "College Club Social". The Magic ship's adult-only daytime programs are 3: the "Navigating the Seas" series (lectures and video info about the ship), the "Disney Behind the Scenes" series (about the "know-how" of Disney specials - from food to entertainment) and the "Art of Entertaining" series, all of which are at no additional charge (for wine tastings there's a $12 charge, $15 for martini and margarita tastings).

MS Disney Magic kids cruise programs are the main reason for the Disney Magic line's high loyalty guests ratio. Designed with families in mind, there are several huge areas onboard, designated for kids with activities for every age level. All kids ages 3-10 have access to 2 interconnected club areas - the Oceaneer's "Club" (7-10 yo) and "Lab" (8-12 yo).

Kids clubs occupy an enormous space resembling a pirate ship, with PCs and TV monitors cloaked in treasure chests, and fun activities like cooking classes, games and contests, food-fests and pool parties. "Edge" is the tweens' club (11-13 yo) with PC and PS games, arts and crafts, and a bridge simulator for navigating a ship. The teen-only area (14-17 yo) is called "Vibe" (located in a funnel midship) - a special lounge with huge couches, flat TVs and video games, other hit activities are the dance parties and the karaoke. All kids programs (age 3+) are complimentary.

"It's A Small World" ship nursery (babies 3 months to 3 years of age) is at an additional cost of $6 per hour ($5 for the 2nd child). An online service allows guests to order from over 1,000 "Babies Travel Lite" products in advance of their sailing (delivered to their cabin). All services are also available on Castaway Cay. All Disney children counselors are college educated, well experienced and attentive.

Follows the complete list of Disney Magic lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults.

• Walt Disney Magic Theatre (977-seat, 3-decks high; offers live shows, aerial acrobatics performances, grand-style productions, 3D movies; with two evening shows - at 6:15 pm and 8:30 pm)
• Magic's Atrium (3-deck high central ship area, featuring custom-made carpet, new furnishings, art deco chandelier, grand piano, and large portholes, with "Helmsman Mickey" bronze statue)
• After Hours/Beat Street (3 clubs' entertainment district, adults only after 9 p.m.; Fathom, Keys and O'Gill's Pub)
• Fathom Lounge Disco & Nightclub
• Keys (adults-only piano bar, features handcrafted cocktails)
• O'Gill's Pub (sports bar, with large TVs and live music)
• Mickey's Mates; Mickey's Mainsail (Disney brand logo shops for postcards, souvenirs, DVDs, toys, clothes, games)
• Sea Treasures (duty-free crystal, brand jewelry, watches, precious stones, Disney merchandise, underwear, sport, and swimming apparel); Quacks (Disney logo swimwear, T-shirts, towels)
• Up Beat (duty-free brand jewelry, perfumes, liquor, and tobaccos); Treasure Ketch (duty-free shop); Whitecaps (Disney logo goods)
• Promenade Lounge (104-seat family venue with full bar service, specialty coffees, and drinks; with the Internet Cafe)
• Studio Sea (game shows, exhibitions, karaoke)
• Buena Vista Theatre (268-seat 4D cinema, features 3D movies, Dolby Surround 7.1, and Dolby 3D movie technology)
• Preludes Bar (quick wait-service snacks and beverages bar)
• Shutters PhotoShop (photo packages, accessories, photographic services); Vista Gallery
• D Lounge Bar & Nightclub
• Vibe Disco & Club Lounge (teens only)
• It's A Small World Nursery (for 3 months to 3 yo infants and toddlers; reservations required)
• Magic's Oceaneer Club (kids 3-12 yo; with four play areas with themes from Disney films); Magic's Oceaneer Lab (play area for kids 3-12 yo)
• Senses Spa & Fitness Complex (with Treatment Salon, Roman Bath, Sauna, Relaxation Room; Fitness Centre /health and wellbeing seminars; Beauty Salon)
• Senses Spa Villas (private suites with own hot tub, private verandah, Roman bed with canopy, open-air shower)
• Quiet Cove Pool (adults only pool, served by Cove Bar; with 2 Whirlpools)
• Cove Cafe (adult-only, with large LED TV screen; Wi-Fi spot)
• Signals Bar (adults-only bar for snacks and beverages, poolside)
• Eye Scream Treats Bar (complimentary ice cream, poolside)
• Frozone Treats (iced fruit smoothies bar, poolside)
• Eye Scream Treats (Monsters Inc themed ice cream parlor)
• Goofy's Family Pool; Mickey's Pool; Nephews' Splash Zone; AquaDunk Water Slide; AquaLab (kids interactive water play area)
• Quarter Masters (video games arcade)
• Edge Lounge (11-14 yo teens-only club area, with a giant video wall, interactive games, Internet)
• 24x14ft Outdoor LED movie screen
• Wide World of Sports Court (basketball, volleyball, soccer)
• Radio Studio (live radio programs for Disney Magic itinerary-related news and onboard events)
• Outlook Bar (retreat area with a piano and full bar; hosts weddings receptions).

Following drydock 2023 refurbishment, Disney Magic now has a new venue - Soul Cat Lounge, themed after Disney's computer-animated film "Soul" (2020).

The Soul Cat Lounge (near Rapunzel's Royal Table restaurant/aft on deck 3) is designed to resemble Half Note Lounge from the movie (Joe Gardner's favorite music spot). The venue is music-themed, with a classic NYC jazz club ambiance and an interior featuring brick walls, wooden accents, comfortable leather seating (surrounding a stage for live music performances in the evenings), Pixar-themed artworks (record labels, concert posters, portraits of Dorothea Williams and her bandmates), music-themed design elements (record players, instruments, Joe Gardner's hat). Table-side are served local brews, signature cocktails (made with New York spirits), a selection of mocktails, brand coffees, sodas, zeppoles (Italian fried doughnuts).

The new production show "An Encanto Celebration" allows guests to engage in music, crafts, and storytelling alongside La Familia Madrigal (family from the Encanto movie). The experience includes meeting and taking photos with Mirabel and Bruno, a sing-along of Encanto songs, creating movie-inspired butterflies and flower crafts. During the show, guests can also enjoy a selection of Colombian beers, cocktails, sodas, film-inspired mocktails.

Itineraries

Disney Magic itinerary program is based on Caribbean and Bahamas roundtrips departing from PortMiami Florida USA , all visiting the DCL's private Bahamian island Castaway Cay .

In September 2020, the liner had planned a European (UK and Ireland) season with 7-day roundtrips from homeport Dover visiting Plymouth , Cork , Liverpool , Greenock , Dublin .

Following the Coronavirus crisis, for summer 2021 (June-September), the ship was scheduled to operate cruises-to-nowhere (mostly 2-3-night plus limited 4-night roundtrips) from homeports London-Tilbury , Liverpool , Newcastle , and Southampton . These unique for DCL itineraries (called "Sea Staycations") were open for booking by UK residents-only and without any call ports.

In fall 2022 the ship operated 7-day NYC to Bermuda (Kings Wharf) itineraries. Since November 2022, Disney Magic is homeported in Galveston Texas for short-breaks (4-night and 5-night) to Mexico's Cozumel and Progreso .

On February 18, 2023, started Disney Magic's homeporting in NOLA/New Orleans Louisiana . The program (run though April 10th) was based on 4-5-6-day roundtrip Western Caribbean itineraries visiting Cozumel (4-day), Cozumel plus Costa Maya (5-day) and Cozumel plus Grand Cayman/George Town Harbour (6-day).

Photos of Disney Magic

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Disney Magic Wiki

The Walt Disney ship Magic is company's first-ever liner, followed by sistership Disney Wonder . Each vessel is 40% smaller in size compared to the 2 newer Disney ships Dream and Fantasy . The inaugural cruise/Maiden Voyage started on July 30, 1998. Ship's Godmother was Patricia Disney (1935-2012) - wife of Roy Edward Disney (1930-2009) who was a senior executive (Vice Chairman and Chairman) for The Walt Disney Company in the period 1954-2009.

The vessel (Fincantieri Marghera yard/hull number 5989) is powered by Wartsila-Sulzer marine diesel engines (model 16ZAV40S) with total power output 58,25 MW. The propulsion system is diesel-electric.

Fun fact is that MS Disney Magic held the record for paying the highest-ever regular Panama Canal passing toll (exactly USD 331,200). However, the record was beaten later by the Princess Cruises ship Coral Princess (USD 400,000).

Outside, the vessel looks like an ocean liner from the early-20th century. Interior decorations are influenced by both Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles. On Magic debuted many of Disney's Marvel superheroes - a really thrilling experience for the youngest passengers.

Disney Magic refurbishments review

Disney Magic was last drydock-refurbished in 2023 (April 15 thru May 4) at Grand Bahama Shipyard in Freeport .

The 3-week refurbishment included general maintenance works and machinery overhauls, as well as renovation of passenger cabins and public spaces. During the drydock, the Concierge Lounge was redesigned and all concierge staterooms (plus the Royal Suites) were completely refurbished with new fixtures, furniture, artworks.

A new music-themed venue (decorated in themes from Disney's computer-animated film "Soul"/2020) was created - Soul Cat Lounge (aft on deck 3). Also were introduced new movie-themed entertainment programs for families as well as the "An Encanto Celebration" production show (themed on Disney's animation film "Encanto"/2021).

During drydock 2023 was also installed shore power connectivity  allowing the ship to plug in and use the port city's power grid electricity for all onboard services while berthed.

Drydock 2019

During the refurbishment in 2019 were added Rapunzel's Royal Table (themed restaurant/aft on deck 3), the teen club was transformed, Cove Cafe (adults-only venue) was redesigned and Club Disney Junior (lounge part of Disney's Oceaneer Club) was added.

Also was redesigned the Rainforest Room in the adults-only Senses Spa (steam and hydrotherapy).

Drydock 2015

The refurbishment in 2015 (September 5-18, in Cadiz) was for extensive renovations (restaurants, bars, spa, atrium, staterooms, kids area), Dream-class concepts (waterslide starting near the funnel's top and swinging out over the side of the ship), lighting/audio upgrades.

The project also included general maintenance works and propulsion system upgrade.

Drydock 2013

The list of deck plan changes after the ship's 6-week long drydock 2013 refurbishment in Cadiz Spain (September 7 through October 10, at Navantia's Puerto Real Shipyard) included:

• AquaDunk (new waterslide), AquaLab (interactive water play area with the Twist n’ Spout waterslide)
• Animator’s Palette restaurant (ex-Studio C) with new flat TVs, lights, walls, speakers
• new Carioca’s (Brazilian-themed restaurant replacing Parrot Cay)
• new Cabanas (replacing Topsider Buffet, hugely enlarged)
• Palo (renovations- new fixtures, glass artwork, stone floor)
• Mickey’s Mainsail (new shop)
• (Deck 3) After Hours district now with the Fathoms (disco club), Keys (piano bar, replacing Cadillac Bar) and O’Gills (Irish pub)
• expanded Senses Spa (by 725 ft2), now with Barbershop, Chill Spa and Smile Spa
• shop upgrades (Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, Anna & Elsa’s Boutique)
• "It's a Small World Nursery", "Nephews"
• renovated and redesigned passenger rooms (elevated beds for more storage space)
• Lobby Atrium changes (2nd staircase removed, the Chihuly chandelier replaced with an Art Deco one)

Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab changes - now with Marvel's Avengers Academy (the first on a Disney ship), Andy's Room (now has the Slinky Dog slide, Mr. Potato Head and Hamm the piggy bank), also changed are the interiors of the rooms Pixie Hollow, and the Mickey Mouse Club.

The Edge (teen club) was relocated (from deck 2 to deck 9), its area was expanded and the amenities there were enhanced (new gaming stations, dance floor).

Also were conducted general maintenance of all mechanical systems, hull and interior painting, piping, propulsion system upgrade (for reducing fuel consumption). 400+ contract workers were employed for all the refurb jobs.

Service history/itineraries review (1998-2016)

Follows the ship's concise service history (former itineraries):

• [1998-2005] 7-day Caribbean from Port Canaveral (Orlando) Florida
• [2005-2012] relocated to San Diego CA
• [2012-2013] relocated to NYC New York and sailing from there to the Bahamas, Canada/New England
• [2013 June] relocated to Europe ( Barcelona ) for the summer season, also receiving a 6-week extensive refurbishment. After the 2013 Transatlantic crossing started departures out of Miami FL , later was repositioned back to Orlando.

In 2016, Disney deployed the Magic ship in Europe. For the first time ever, Disney offered UK cruise departures (from Dover England) to ports in Baltic Sea (incl Norwegian Fjords), Iceland, UK (British Isles). Throughout 2016 summer, the ship operated in the Western Mediterranean (leaving from Barcelona ). After that followed a 12-day Transatlantic repositioning to NYC for round-trip cruises to Canada (5-6-day to New England - Saint John NB and Halifax NS) and 8-9-day to Florida-Bahamas (visiting Port Canaveral, Nassau, and the private island Castaway Cay).

Meg O. on the Go

Houston Beauty, Mommy, and Lifestyle Blogger

February 17, 2023

Disney Magic Cruise Ship Review – Our 4th Disney Cruise!

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Updated February 17, 2023

As many of you know, we are huge Disney Cruise Line fans. I’ve sailed with other cruise lines in the past, but Disney makes it so much fun for the entire family. They are 100% worth the money, and I really feel you get what you pay for.

If you love the magic of the Disney parks but want to feel super relaxed and carefree? Book a Disney Cruise! I’m serious.

This past November we sailed on the Disney Magic cruise ship for our fourth Disney cruise in the last 4 years. This time we brought Greg’s parents with us, and it was their first cruise! We all had the best time.

We have previously sailed on the Dream and Fantasy, and have never sailed on any of their smaller ships. I was very curious how we would like the Magic compared to the larger ships, and we were pleasantly surprised! We had the best vacation and were thoroughly impressed.

In this blog post and video, I’m outlining our trip and some of the things I feel everyone should know about cruising with Disney. I have written a few other blog posts on this topic, in case you want to read about our other sailings:

What to Expect on Your First Disney Cruise

Disney Cruise Line – There’s Something for Everyone! Our 7-Night Sailing on the Disney Fantasy

Here’s a table of contents on what I’m going over in this blog post, if you’d like to jump around!

Disney Magic Cruise Ship – 6-Night Sailing from San Juan to Galveston, TX

Cruise itinerary – a 6-night one-way cruise, our stateroom – deluxe family oceanview stateroom with verandah (category 04b), dining options aboard the disney magic, disney magic adults-only activities, disney magic cruise ship vs. the larger ships, port adventures / excursions, activities & entertainment on board, pirate night, overall thoughts on the disney magic cruise ship, ready to plan your disney cruise, want more disney content.

Make sure to watch the video to get the full view of our experience!

We found a unique cruise itinerary and did a repositioning cruise! It was a one-way cruise from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and ended in Galveston, TX. We really loved this itinerary! The itinerary was:

Day 1 – Embark and Depart San Juan, Puerto Rico Day 2 – St. Thomas, USVI Day 3 – At Sea Day 4 – Falmouth, Jamaica Day 5 – At Sea Day 6 – At Sea Day 7 – Disembark in Galveston, TX

We live 30 minutes north of Galveston, TX so it was amazing to get off the boat and be home by 9:30 a.m. We loved that we only had to get one-way flights to San Juan and were able to explore San Juan a little bit before the cruise. It made the start of the journey even more fun! San Juan was a place we’ve never been to before, and it was gorgeous! While this did not include a stop at Castaway Cay (Disney’s private island), it was an incredible itinerary.

We personally love having a few days at sea, because it gives you a lot of downtime, relaxation, and the ability to experience all the ship has to offer. You can do Palo, the spa, beverage seminars/tastings, character meet and greets, shows, classes, bingo… there is literally always something going on!

Now let’s get to our accommodations!

For this sailing, we stayed in a Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah. This is Category 04B. We stated in room 8586, which is near the Aft elevators/stairwell. This location was awesome for it because it was one floor up from Cabanas and the top pool deck.

This stateroom comfortably sleeps 5 guests. There is a queen bed (it honestly feels much larger than a queen to us), a bunk bed, and a pull-down murphy bed for the 5th sleeper. There’s plenty of storage (we had 4 large rolling suitcases and all of them fit under the bed) and the room is very comfortable! They have a split bathroom – one has a toilet and sink, and the other has a shower and sink. Very thoughtfully designed for families!

If you’re going on a Disney Cruise, don’t forget to grab some magnets for your stateroom door! Disney cruisers love to decorate their doors. I grabbed this personalized set off of Etsy.

There are lots of dining options aboard the ship, and you won’t go hungry! Like the other ships, you will be in a rotational dining for dinner. There are 3 dinner restaurants you’ll rotate through and your servers will follow you! We love this aspect of the cruise, because our servers almost became like family by the end of the trip.

The dinner restaurants aboard the Disney Magic are Lumiere’s, Animator’s Palate, and Rapunzel’s Royal Table. We had exceptional experiences at every single restaurant. I definitely looked forward to it every evening.

Along with the dinner restaurants, there are other options for food! You will not go hungry! The other options for dining are:

Cabanas – The buffet! On deck 9

Duck in Diner – Quick service near the pool on deck 9. Lots of Middle Eastern inspired foods, along with classic American items.

Pinocchio’s Pizzeria – Quick service near the pool on deck 9. Pizza!

Eye Scream Treats – Where you can get that unlimited soft serve on deck 9!

Frozone Treats – Another spot on deck 9, where you can get specialty cold treats like smoothies and dole whip. Most of this is for an additional cost.

Cove Cafe – Specialty coffee shop on deck 9. Most of these items are for an additional cost.

Just like all of the ships in the Disney Cruise Line fleet, the Disney Magic has its own amazing kids club! The Oceaneer Club & Lab is where kids ages 3-12 can hhave a blast while parents can enjoy a date night, spa treatment, or just a little alone time.

All 3 of my kids LOVE the Oceaneer Club. They’re constantly keeping the kids entertained, characters will hang with the kids, and so much more.

Best of all, this is included with your cruise and no additional cost! Whoop whoop!

If you have a kiddo under 2, they can go to It’s a Small World Nursery. This is available for children 6 months old – 3 years. We used the Small World Nursery when Logan was 6 months old (on the Disney Dream), and it was absolutely fabulous. It does come at an additional cost, but we found it to be worth every penny. They did amazing with the littlest ones.

For pre-teens and teens, there are hangout spots where they can go!

Edge is for ages 11-14, and it has its own activities and programming tailored to young ones in that age group.

Vibe is for ages 14-17. It is chaperoned but as unrestricted as it can be for that age group.

I don’t have any feedback or experience for the pre-teen/teen hangouts but I can update you on this when we go again in 2024!

Disney Cruise Line does an amazing job of making sure everyone in the family has a wonderful, relaxing vacation. They do not skimp on the adults only experiences!

There is an entirely private pool deck and bar, the spa is adults only, and Palo (extra cost restaurant) is on board.

There are various bars and lounges across the ship that are adults only, and plenty of spaces to to get away from the children. While I will say, don’t go on a Disney Cruise if you don’t want to see kids (lol), you can still escape them in certain areas!

You can also partake in Mixology classes, tastings, and so much more. We did the Mixology class and the Chocolate & Liquor tasting and absolutely loved both! These classes are at an additional cost, but we felt like it was worth every penny.

Leave the kids at the Oceaneer Club and enjoy your time alone!

Bigger ships doesn’t always necessarily mean better when it comes to the Disney Cruise Line fleet. What I will tell you is they really try to make each and every one of their ships special, no matter the size! While I do want to experience the Wish (their newest and largest ship), I would say do not sleep on the Magic. It’s AMAZING. There are some things I think are worth noting, though!

Here’s what I think is important to know about sailing on the Magic vs. the Dream/Fantasy

• The boat itself is noticeably smaller but it does mean less passengers and a more intimate feeling. It is easy to navigate and get wherever you need to go quickly.
• Although the boat is smaller, the staterooms are the exact same as the Dream and the Fantasy.
• The atrium and common spaces are smaller feeling but nothing we ever thought felt cramped or outdated.
• The ship was taken care of and immaculate. When we were at ports, I noticed crews taking care of the exterior of the ship (painting, cleaning, etc.). This boat was absolutely well-maintained and did not feel “old,” despite it being the oldest ship in the fleet (it was “born” in 1998!).
• The theatre where they perform the stage shows is smaller, but the quality of the shows is the same. Each boat has their resident musical, and the Magic is home to Tangled: The Musical.
• There is no Remy on board the Magic. We’ve actually never been to Remy, so this isn’t something we missed.
• Palo was the exact same dining experience as aboard the Dream and Fantasy. Top notch!
• The adults-only bars and lounges were a lot smaller and not as unique as the Dream and Fantasy (both of which have really cool areas). However, we are not really into spending a ton of time in bars and lounges, so it didn’t matter to us. We did really enjoy the seminars (extra cost) that were offered in this area – we did a chocolate & liquor tasting and a mixology class. The bars and lounges aboard the Magic were fantastic, they just weren’t “extra special and unique” as the ones on the Dream/Fantasy.
• Dinner rotation is very similar to the Dream and Fantasy. You have Lumiere’s (which is Similar to Royal Court/Palace on the larger ships), Animator’s Palate, and Rapunzel’s Royal Table (unique to the Magic). I have to say, Animator’s Palate aboard the Magic is even better than the larger ships. It’s a similar experience but just up a notch. I also think Rapunzel’s Royal Table was incredible because it’s dinner and a show (which you don’t get on the Dream and Fantasy). I have to say, the rotational dining aboard the Magic was the winner in my book!
• Food options on the top pool deck are about the same as the Dream/Fantasy. Lots of grab and go options, endless soft serve, etc.
• There is no AquaDuck on the Magic, but there is the AquaDunk. It is a slide where the floor drops out from under you and you plunge down. It’s over very quickly and is very thrilling, lol.
• There is a Mickey slide on the Magic that is similar to the Dream/Fantasy, but I think it may be a little bigger.
• There’s a splash pad and hot tubs on the Magic just like the Dream/Fantasy, just situated a little differently and a little smaller.
• Adults-only pool/deck area seems about the same to me, just a little smaller.
• Senses Spa is smaller and there aren’t a lot of rooms with water view. There are also no hot tubs facing the ocean, so the Rainforest room area is a bit different. But if you book a “couple’s choice” treatment, you get an amazing suite with a hot tub and quite a view. We thoroughly enjoyed Senses Spa aboard the Magic, it was just a little different.
• Activities, character interactions, and things to do around the ship seem about the same aboard all three vessels.
• Pirate night was a little different on the Magic – there was only one show (vs. the two aboard the Dream/Fantasy) but it was epic because Mickey flew in on a zipline and orchestrated the fireworks. It’s kinda like they combined the two shows of the Dream/Fantasy into one but it was amazing. Fireworks were still just as great!
• Cabanas (the buffet) is identical!

I’m sure there are more similarities and differences between the Magic vs. the larger ships, but those are the biggest ones that stood out to us.

For this cruise, we did excursions (otherwise known as Port Adventures) at both ports we stopped at. This itinerary had a lot of days at sea (which we love!), and I’m glad we did something when we docked.

In St. Thomas we did the Magen’s Bay Beach Break. It was a short drive over to Magen’s Bay where we hung out all morning.

Falmouth, Jamaica we did the Fun and Exclusive Beach Break. This was another short ride over to a beach! But this excursion was over at Puerto Seco Beach Club. It also included some fun inflatables, a pool, and an awesome lunch set up.

I recommend both excursions for those who want a chill beach day. My kids loved both of them! This cruise did not include a stop at their private island, Castaway Cay (which is amazing), but we still had an incredible time.

Definitely consult with your Disney planner for Port Adventures recommendations – they are very knowledgable! If you’re going to book an excursion, I do think it’s best to book through Disney.

There are so many things to do on a Disney cruise, and you will not get board. Everything going on will be in your Disney Cruise app so don’t stress that you’re missing out!

Some of the things you can do are…

• Character meet and greets
• Adults only classes (mixology, tastings)
• Towel folding
• Cooking classes
• Silent DJ dance party
• Deck parties
• Fitness classes
• Fitness center
• Movies (any movie the Disney company has released and currently in theatres you can watch on board!)
• Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
• Spa Services

That’s just scratching the surface! The nightly entertainment on board is also incredible. Disney takes their position as an entertainment company seriously. They produce Broadway-style shows, have a comedian, and other nightly entertainment. The signature show on the Disney Magic is Tangled: The Musical , and we loved it! They also have Twice Charmed and Believe , which were also incredible. My girls particularly loved the show each night. They’re 100% worth catching.

Pirate night is our favorite evening on a Disney cruise! Everyone (well, mostly everyone) gets dressed up in some sort of pirate gear, goes to dinner, and then enjoys a fun show and fireworks on the top deck. Yes, there’s fireworks! Disney is the only cruise line that does fireworks at sea. There’s something so special about it! All of the deck parties are fairly different depending on the ship, but we loved the one on the Magic!

We absolutely loved this cruise! We enjoyed the smaller, more intimate vessel that is the Disney Magic cruise ship, the experiences, the food, the shows, character interactions, pirate night… it all was absolutely incredible! I say do not sleep on the Disney Magic if you’re considering a cruise. You will have the best time!

If you’re looking to plan a Disney Cruise and not sure where to start, definitely work with a Disney planner! For this trip, we used Stephanie at Traveling Ears Vacations . She was absolutely wonderful throughout the COVID rescheduling and all the rebooking we had to do.  Hiring a Disney planner means they can help with so much, and much more you’ll even realize! They can even book excursions, on board activities, specialty dining, spa treatments, and more. They’re free to use and really are so valuable!

Before you get on board, make sure you download the Disney Cruise app. It’ll be the way you get the daily schedule on board, be able to message your travel party, book experiences/dining/activities, and more.

I hope this post was helpful as you plan your next Disney adventure! If you’re looking for more Disney content, check out these other posts I’ve written:

Summer Disney World Outfits and Must-Haves for Florida Weather

Visiting Disney World with a Baby

Disney World for Kids: The Best Experiences for Preschoolers and Beyond

Must-Take Photos at Disney World – 70 Instagram-Worthy Ideas!

Our Family Babymoon to Disney World

Benefits of Staying at the Swan and Dolphin Resort in Orlando

…or check out all of my travel content HERE !

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May 2, 2024 at 10:02 pm

Our first Disney Cruise is scheduled for the fall of 2025, and we are already making plans. Although I have been to Walt Disney World several times, I am a complete novice when it comes to cruises and would like to gather as much information as I can on the Disney Cruise Line (DCL) before we decide on a destination and ship. When I first started looking into this, I assumed we would depart from Port Canaveral and spend a few days at Walt Disney World to cap off our vacation. I am now doubtful. The number of possible ports of departure and final destinations is enormous. My husband and I will be joined by our two young children, who will be two and five years old, respectively, so I’m trying to find out what’s best for everyone involved. Do you have any suggestions for trips that would be suitable for children of that age in terms of duration, location, or activities?

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Full Review/Report of our 5-Night Magic Experience July 31-August 5, 2023

• Thread starter 2boysmommy
• Start date Aug 7, 2023

Mouseketeer

• Aug 7, 2023

I found myself with some extra time today and wrote out a review of our recent trip. I will post here with each day separately. Happy to answer any questions or post any photos. We just disembarked from the 5-Night Silver Anniversary at Sea Western Caribbean Cruise from Miami, FL on the Disney Magic. I wanted to provide a quick report of our experience – from the exceptional to the not as much. For reference, we are a multi-generation family of 10: kids ages 15, 17, 18, 21, their 2 sets of parents, and grandparents. This specific trip was booked as a HS graduation and 18th birthday trip for my niece and to celebrate my parents’ 55th anniversary and 75th birthdays. As a group we have done 5 DCL cruises, starting in 2012, on the Fantasy and Magic, and one NCL (Haven area). My immediate family of 4 has done one additional DCL and one Celebrity. My husband and I have also done 3 Princess and 2 additional Celebrity, my brother/SIL have done an additional Celebrity and RCL, and my parents have been on 25+ cruises across numerous cruise lines. All that is to say… we have a wide variety of experiences to compare this voyage to. We had four category 5B Deluxe Oceanview with Veranda staterooms on Deck 6 and our dining rotation was Rapunzel’s Royal Table (Let the Magic Begin), Lumiere’s, Animator’s Palate, Animator’s (Pirate Night) and back to Rapunzel’s (lantern menu/show night). We arrived the day prior to embarking and spent the night at the Hampton Inn in Brickell. It is a nice hotel – clean enough, decent breakfast, good location for dinner the night before and a quick walk to Publix. Unfortunately, their A/C was out in the lobby and our hallway, and it was toasty. Our rooms were cool enough, but this ended up being a running theme with our trip.  

DAY 1 – Miami, FL The next morning, we took 3 Uber/Lyft XL vehicles to port; all departing at the same time and arriving within 7 minutes of each other. We could have crammed into 2 but chose to have some space and not stress about loading the luggage. Each cost $17-20 for the trip. We arrived at the port around 11:10 AM, dropped our bags with the excellent porters, and walked to the entrance. Our PATs were 11:30 and 11:45 AM (difference between Gold and Silver check-in dates) and they had the 11:30, 11:45 and 12:00 times standing to the side. Thankfully, just as we walked up, they waved us through. Security was a breeze and the check-in line moved very quickly. They walked us as a group to the escalator. I had an interesting encounter with a guy in Mickey gloves who told me “I don’t give a damn” when he stopped me after the rest of my group went to get on the escalator. I know they aren’t direct Disney employees, but it was a little shocking. I try hard to not let stuff like that get to me and was able to continue without incident. The waiting area was very crowded but right when we found seats, they called our Boarding Group (6) and within 5 minutes had called through group 9, which included the rest of us. After a great group photo, we took the long walk up the ramps to the ship. We had them announce my parents with their grandkids separately from us and it was a special moment – Mickey was standing on the stairs waving and all was right in the world. We headed to Rapunzel’s for lunch knowing my parents wouldn’t navigate the crowds in the buffet too well. There was a line to get in and they kept encouraging us to go upstairs but it moved quickly, and we were seated within 10 minutes of boarding. We had Sompong and CJ as our service team. I get now why everyone raves about him. While our dinner team was great, Sompong is something special! CJ was a hoot – she’s from England but basically Wales but don’t say she’s from Wales. We saw her multiple times throughout the week and each time she remembered us and stopped for a chat. It’s those personal connections that make DCL special and was a wonderful start to our cruise. As soon as we finished lunch, it was 1:25 and we headed to our rooms on deck 6. They were ready so we all got in and started to get settled. Our luggage started showing up quickly and we had almost all pieces across 4 rooms before the muster drill at 4:00. The last piece did not arrive until 5:30 PM – a great reminder to pack anything you absolutely need for the day/early evening in the bag you carry on! Jeffery was our stateroom host and was wonderful. He quickly opened the balcony dividers between our rooms (6068/6070/6072/6074) and fulfilled the few requests we had. Our Castaway Club gifts were on the bed – a quality, nice size tote bag, the very useful wet/dry bag, and our gold lanyards (which were very yellow and quite large). For those looking for more information on these rooms, 6068/6070 connect and sleep up to 4 each with an upper pull-down bed. 6072/6074 connect but only sleep up to 3 each as they do not have the upper bed. There is a solid wall between 6074 and 6076 so if you have those two rooms you would not be able to open a balcony divider between them. After a HOT, sticky, and crowded muster drill on the Promenade Deck, we made our way to Deck 10 to watch the sail away show from above. The Cruise Director and team were the least exciting of any ship we have been on. They were all nice and we got to know them through the week. They just lacked the energy you expect from a DCL team. We quickly moved to the Sports Deck area to play some games and watch the port exit from a less crowded area. After enjoying the pilot boat almost forcibly remove a sailboat from our path, we were on our way. Most of us went to the Tangled show that evening in the Walt Disney Theater. It was very good but very long so be prepared. We did not have a ton of time between it ending and needing to be at dinner. The theater was packed and fairly loud, but everyone seemed to enjoy the show. The lantern part towards the end is unique and beautiful. Maximus was awesome and made me laugh every time he was on stage. We had the late seating (8:15 PM) which we have picked for every cruise, even when our kids were young. I know most people don’t love this time but for us it works very well. We’ve never had the Let the Magic Begin menu and we found it overall to be better than the See Ya Real Soon/’Til We Meet Again menu. Whether that was first night food happiness vs. last night food indifference…who knows. We were at table 58 – a large oval for our group of 10. Our table location in this restaurant was towards the stage area and in the middle of other tables. Joey and Anya (sp?) were our service team and were wonderful this night and throughout the cruise. They work so hard but always have a smile on their faces. We had celebration cakes for my parents’ anniversary and my brother’s birthday…which was in February. That one was a joke by our Head Waiter. My niece had made a big deal about it being HER trip so he was purposely bringing out random cakes to others. He finally brought out a birthday cake for her…the first of many she would have!! After dinner my husband, nephew and I went to our Whiskey Tasting experience. It was $50/person and met in the Cove Café. Jarvis led the 10 participants in a tasting of 5 different whiskeys. We learned a lot of history and some of the nuances of whiskey from various parts of the world. Some of the ones we tasted were very expensive and I doubt I will drink them again, so it was unique. By this point we were full and exhausted so we crashed hard.  

DAY 2 – Castaway Cay This was the day I was most looking forward to as Castaway Cay is always my favorite port. We have never had it so early in the cruise, but it felt like a great way to kick things off. I was up early, got dressed, and packed up my stuff to disembark as soon as the gangway was open. I headed up to Cabanas to grab a coffee and bite to eat…and hit a WALL of people. The line to enter was out the door, through the elevator lobby, out the other door, past Daisy’s De-Lights, and halfway down the sun chairs on the pool deck. I immediately gave up on that thought and headed to Cove Café. There were at least 10 groups in front of me so I grabbed a coffee from the drink station and went down the elevators to Deck 1. My SIL met me on the dock, we stopped to buy the soft-side cooler with waters, and we started walking to get seats. Our family always chooses the second, smaller family beach as our kids like the water slides. Given how old they are compared to our last visit, we should have stopped at the larger beach for the better view! We also like as much shade and umbrella coverage as we can group together. Not wanting to monopolize the front row, we grabbed 6 seats on the front and 4 behind. We settled in and waited for the rest of the crew. About 30 minutes later, no sooner than their feet touched the sand, it started raining. Sideways. Plus a decent amount of thunder and some visible lightning. It lasted about 30-45 minutes in total, and we basically just waited it out at the seats. My SIL walked my mom to the closest bar area for some shelter, but once you were that wet it really didn’t matter. After it stopped, we dried everything off as best we could and went on with our Castaway day! My oldest son ran the 5K during all of that and was soaked. Since he’s 17, he still requires an adult to take him off and on the ship so I walked back with him. After we got his clothes wrung out and his shoes taken apart to dry, we hurried back to get lunch at Cookies Too. In hindsight, we should have grabbed some lunch on the ship before we went back. We always love the Castaway lunch but today it was a miss. My burger patty was a charred hockey puck and the chicken was insanely dry. The sides were fine, so I mainly ate coleslaw and corn/black bean salad. Of course, a chocolate chip cookie with soft serve made it all better. After lunch, my teens went off to find the Vibe hangout and we didn’t really see them the rest of the day. The rest of us enjoyed the beach and the ocean and went down the waterslides a couple of times. Most of our group had headed back to the ship by 2:30 so my husband and I decided to do the snorkel trail. We were being cheap ($34/person for rental gear) so we just got the required vests and used goggles. It made for a much harder swim, but we were able to see 4 of the sunken items before we had to head back. The water is so salty that you can float with almost zero effort. It’s so very strange but really cool. By the time we got back it was after 4:00 so we packed up and headed back to the ship. This was the first day we commented on the smell in our toilet room. It was an overwhelming urine smell, almost as though someone had peed directly into the floor drain. Jeffery was on it immediately, cleaning the room and adding some additional fragrance. He also called for maintenance to come take a look. They ended up putting a piece of duct tape over the drain. It didn’t help. One thing we noticed on this cruise was a lack of organized family activities. It seems that many activities that used to be available to all ages is now behind the various youth clubs. We have great memories of the vegetable and the soap car races, towel folding, origami, drawing classes, etc. when our kids were young. It was fun to be able to participate as a multi-generational group. We had one towel folding class and one drawing experience that was not in a youth club. All that was really offered were some coloring sessions (literally printed pages with markers available) and 3D crafts (cutting and folding paper) that you did on your own, bingo (very expensive) and trivia. So this day started our trivia run. We played almost every trivia offered and most of the time came in first worst. The number of trivia games we lost by one answer was actually laughable, but it made it fun. We skipped the magician this night in favor of family photos. It was the Silver Celebration night so it was “dress up optional” and was similar to a Captain’s night with free drinks in the atrium, music, and lots of photographers out. We got some good photos and had a drink. The main issue was the heat. It was beyond hot in the atrium and in all the common areas midship on almost every deck. This continued all week and at times was unbearable. I don’t know if the A/C can’t keep up with the number of people or if the doors to the Promenade are set to stay open too long (they are all auto controlled by waving your hand over the button) allowing way too much heat in but it was terrible. We basically stayed in a state of sweat the entire cruise. Thankfully our rooms stayed cool (we kept the balcony door closed and locked almost all the time and the curtains drawn) but even the dining rooms were toasty, and they are typically cool enough that I need a sweater. My husband went to Guest Services and asked why it was so hot. He nicely explained we had been on many cruises before, to all parts of the Caribbean and the Mediterranean, across all seasons, and had never experienced that much heat inside the ship. The guy said “Have you ever cruised before? To the Caribbean?” Ummmm…yes… They just said it was normal and that the A/C was functioning just fine. People were walking around with sweat dripping from their foreheads inside the ship. It was most definitely not normal. But it gave us a good response for the rest of the trip whenever anyone said they were hot…”Have you ever cruise the Caribbean before?” Dinner was at Lumiere’s and was, as usual, fabulous. It’s a unique menu in a beautiful setting. Our table was tightly wedged between 2 server stations and was quite loud but there isn’t much you can do about that. Since we were only there one night we didn’t mention it. The Head Server brought my niece another celebration cake, this time for graduation, and she realized she may have started something! We made our way to Deck 10 to watch the Silver Sea Celebration fireworks. They were lovely. Pro tip…they are on the starboard side and Deck 10 is your best bet to see them. Between the smokestacks is quite crowded. Be midship or more forward to avoid the most people. However, right at the rear smokestack (where they block it off behind) is a great place to stand if you are more intrigued with how they are shooting them off than the fireworks themselves. My dad was happily watching the mortars leave the ship the entire time! After setting our clocks back an hour we were off to bed.  

DAY 3 – At Sea We had decided to all meet for a full breakfast at Lumiere’s at 9:00 this morning. Unfortunately, we didn’t account for the time change so most of us were up rather early! Breakfast was yummy and we exited in the middle of the Princess Gathering. We headed up to Deck 4 to watch all the happy kiddos interact with the beautiful princesses and reminisce about the days when our kids were young. At 10:30 AM we had the Member Gathering in the D Lounge for Disney Vacation Club. In the past this has been one of our favorite things on the ship but today it was rather blah. I don’t know if there just weren’t many members onboard or what, but it wasn’t as exciting as it usually is. The complimentary drinks were terrible – it was the Welcome Home cocktail that DCL created for DVC and it was sweet and blue and made me gag. Most of my family bailed before the game and the “special guest”. The game was relatively entertaining – Family Feud style about DVC and general Disney. The guest at the end was Donald and it was nice to see him and get a photo without a big line. Granted my face is bright red because it was, you guessed it, really hot in there. The best part was the 3 bottles of water I drank. Sometimes it’s the little things! To round out my DVC experience for the week, we had a fun Mickey Ear Hat as the magnet on our door and picked up the daily gift at the desk. Nothing super exciting – lanyard, drawstring bag, lip balm, pop socket and Riviera print. We have been debating adding on at the Disneyland villas but just can’t justify the cost. They had some deals for onboard only add-ons but not enough to make us take the leap. When I went back to the room, Jeffery stopped me to ask about the smell. Since it was still strong, he called for maintenance again. They came sometime during the day and snaked the drain and the toilet and it was definitely better that night. From here out we only noticed it if the door to the toilet room was closed when someone was in the shower. No idea how it was all connected but at least it was better. Jeffery put some loofah scrubs in our room as a “thank you” for our patience as they dealt with the issue. Totally unnecessary but a nice gesture. Ironically, my brother’s toilet had an issue during the week (the button got stuck and when they came to fix it the toilet started making a deafening noise when flushed…thankfully they were able to figure it out within the day!) and my parents’ toilet leaked on the floor one night (they woke up to a floor full of (thankfully clear!) water…it never happened again but was really odd). Jeffery dealt with each issue quickly and completely and was always very gracious. The rest of this day consisted of multiple trivia competitions and a round of bingo. We bought 3 machines and 3 paper cards. No one in our group won although 2 of the machines had one number left on a couple of games each. Out of the 4 games played there were about 10 total winners in the room…and only one was using a paper card. It’s hard to think the game isn’t rigged when only machines are winning and it’s a computer program picking the numbers that are directly connected to those machines. I felt very old and missed the days of actual bingo balls coming out of the basket. I did not attend the show this night (Twice Charmed: An Original Twist on the Cinderella Story) – we were in O’Gill’s playing music trivia. Dinner was at Animator’s Palate. I just love that menu and setting! Our table was in a more open location right as you come into the restaurant and had a great view of all the action. Watching the pictures change throughout the meal is fun to me and the ending never fails to make me cry. Between the movie choices on the screens and the Fantasmic music…I’m mush. After everyone was done making fun of me we had all the desserts, including another birthday cake for my niece. Literally – we ordered every single dessert option on the main menu and the kids’ menu across the 10 of us. When Joey brought the tray out we all erupted in laughter, him included. There was some real excitement in the room that night as someone proposed during dessert! The entire dining room cheered. I was off to bed right after dinner for our big outing the next day.  

DAY 4 – Cozumel Remembering the debacle that was Cabanas on Castaway day, I rope dropped the buffet for coffee and a bite of breakfast. I wasn’t the only person with this idea – there were about 20 of us waiting for them to open the doors. Within 15 minutes it was pretty crowded. I worked through theories on this and then realized…the buffet hours are very limited compared to pre-covid. Breakfast is 7:00-10:00 and lunch is 11:30-2:00 on most days. That’s it. The pool quick service locations have different hours and some are open later in the evening. But for the most part, a large portion of the ship population descends on the same spot in a short amount of time. It’s quite chaotic. Historically, I don’t love Cozumel as a port of call. There just aren’t many redeeming qualities to me. I hate the dock location for DCL because you have to walk forever through so many stores to even get to the street level to be able to leave. We had discussed staying onboard this day, but my niece really wanted to go to a beach or somehow be in the water. The Port Adventures were all pretty expensive for what they were and none really interested us. Instead, I found a private catamaran charter through Cozumel Windseekers. It was a 15-20 minute taxi ride to the marina where they are docked (right next to Carnival’s big port area) and we were able to get a large van to comfortably transport us all. Shelly met us at the entrance to the marina and walked us to the Sophia where we set sail on a 5-hour Sail & Snorkel experience. It was heaven. Every moment of our time on the boat was perfect. The crew was so wonderful and friendly. They fed us from the second we boarded until we were almost back to the marina. A beautiful assortment of fruit started the morning followed by vegetables and dip as a snack and then a seriously fantastic lunch of trigger fish ceviche, chicken fajitas, tortillas, chips, freshly made guacamole, fresh pico de gallo, refried black beans…so much food! We also had made-to-order drinks throughout the day with vodka, rum, tequila and whiskey options as well as beer. They had a huge cooler full of bottled water and Gatorade plus all sorts of fruit juice and soft drinks. All that hospitality paled in comparison to our time on the water. They took us snorkeling in a very popular area but made sure we were safe, together, and away from other groups while constantly pointing out amazing sea life. We saw turtles, eels, a nurse shark, tons of fish, coral…it was marvelous. Our next stop was an incredible sand bar where we could easily stand up in the bright turquoise water. They had a large float that held 4 people comfortably, a standup paddle board, and a float for our drinks. We were able to get both my parents into the water here so all of us got to experience it together. One of the crew stayed in the water with us for safety…and to be our drink runner! A HUGE stingray swam through our group twice, almost like it was on a schedule. It was stunning…and a little freaky. After about an hour in the water we had to get back onboard to start the return journey. The netted front was perfect for laying and enjoying the sun and the water, plus there were plenty of other places to sit. There were 2 bathrooms on the boat and multiple shaded and indoor areas for those that needed a break from the sun. Once we returned, Shelly made sure we made it back to the marina entrance where our taxi was waiting, walking patiently with my mom on her arm. While it cost a little more than joining a large group outing, it was much less than the private option through DCL. We all agreed the personalized service and care we received along with the overall incredible experience was well worth the price. After returning to port, and walking the maze back to the ship, we started getting ready for the evening. Tonight, in lieu of a stage show, they were playing The Haunted Mansion film in the big theater. It was…interesting. I’m not at all sure who the market is for this one. It’s moderately funny, kind of scary, a little sad…and has more than a few loose plot lines. The special effects are incredible and the nods to the ride are plentiful. I don’t think I need to watch it again. This was Pirate Night and we were in Animator’s Palate again. I always like having Pirate Night in here with the added ambiance of the pictures around the room. The menu was the same as it usually is. This is one of my least favorite nights and I really tried to get Palo for this night but was unsuccessful. Oh well…it was a good excuse to not eat as much! Before and after dinner we enjoyed the music in the atrium. I’m not sure of their names so I called them the Irish dudes. Incredible musicians and such fun music! We ventured back to Deck 10 starboard just forward of midship for the Pirate Party and fireworks. This is a great place to stand if you don’t care much about the stage show. You get to see a ton of characters as they go down to the stage, you have a great view of Captain Mickey make his entrance, and a clear view of the fireworks. Love this spot for this night. I drug my exhausted self to bed, dreaming of Palo brunch the next day.  

DAY 5 – At Sea I got up early to get a long walk in as I was starting to feel like the people on the Axiom in Wall-E. My husband and I then met our boys at Cabanas to sit and talk while they had breakfast. We did not eat since the 8 of us that are DCL adults had Palo brunch reservations at noon. I had been looking forward to this since we booked our cruise. We have done Palo brunch 3 times and dinner once. Sadly, it wasn’t as amazing as I remembered. There are not many large tables in Palo so they seated us in the private room in the back. It was nice to have the space and it was quiet but it did take away some of the atmosphere you get in the main dining area. It’s a $50/person flat rate for brunch but the missing buffet makes a big difference in the experience. You can order as much as you want from the menu but it’s a very heavy menu. We started with a glass of Prosecco, mimosa or Bellini and I also ordered a latte. This was the highlight of my meal. It was a beautiful latte and had an amazing taste and texture. We were served a selection of pastries that were all beautiful and tasty. We then ordered our meal – all courses at once. I chose the zucchini frittata, a bowl of tomato soup, and the Parmesan-Crusted Chicken Breast. Husband and I split a flatbread with half margarita and half grape and gorgonzola. He ordered the Lasagna Bolognaise and the Veal Saltimbocca. He requested a simple salad of arugula and olive oil but was told that was not an option. Odd, as there was arugula all over my frittata, but whatever. Overall, there was a serious lack of fruit and vegetable options on the menu, even as a side dish. Across our group, we tried most of the antipasti, egg and flatbread options. Aside from the veal the only other non-lasagna or chicken parm choice at the table was the Wild Mushroom Ravioli. The lasagna was the clear favorite across the table, but everyone said it was very heavy. Dessert choices were overall good, although I missed the souffle option. Our server said I could come back in the evening and have just a souffle at the bar, but my timing did not work out for that. Palo brunch is expensive, and I don’t really feel it is worth it anymore. When the buffet was a part of the experience it was better and, oddly, cheaper. You could try a small amount of multiple items leading up to your entrée. Now it is multiple courses of full-sized items. A regular person just can’t eat that much at one sitting, and they won’t let you take anything out of the restaurant. We wasted so much food. If we ever cruise DCL again, I will skip brunch in Palo. I’m not sure if I would do dinner…maybe on a longer cruise. It’s a beautiful restaurant and a special experience but the cost has just put it out range for it to be a necessity. We were not finished until after 2:30 PM and, after changing, I had to go for another walk. We then played a few rounds of trivia, packed a couple of our bags, and debated going to the evening show (Disney Dreams – An Enchanted Classic) but shopping won out for me. I was, however, underwhelmed by the gift shop selection. The 25th Anniversary choices were limited to jewelry and a model ship with a couple of straggling coffee mugs. There were some decent Magic specific items but nothing that I just had to have. I ended up with a Christmas ornament and a t-shirt. My younger son got Disney Uno and the older got a t-shirt. We came out pretty cheap! After getting ready and getting another bag packed and set out, we headed to dinner. Tonight was Rapunzel’s for the dinner show. It started with the Irish dudes and continued with a couple of ruffians, Rapunzel and then Flynn joined her. It was cute but very loud. The whole restaurant was much louder than the first night we were there. The servers were more scattered and the show was overshadowed by the general din. The lantern piece was neat, but it seemed to make the food service more choppy. We had the Lantern menu and it was fine. The highlight was the ravioli appetizer, and I could have happily had another one as my entrée. After the meal I saw the kid’s menu and realized I should have ordered some things from it instead. We had one final birthday celebration cake for my niece and called it a night.  

DAY 6 – Miami, FL We woke up early to the Port of Miami. I’m always super thankful to have the late seating on disembarkation day. I was able to shower and get ready, make sure the teenagers were up and going, and finish the last-minute packing without feeling rushed. Breakfast was back in Rapunzel’s and was fine. We said goodbye to our assistant server and went out to sit in Soul Cat Lounge while we waited for the chaos to clear. My family had a 3:00 PM flight from FLL so we weren’t in any rush to get off the ship. The rest of the group had a 6:30 PM flight so they had rented a car for the day and my SIL left to go pick it up and come back for them. We took some final photos in the atrium and were some of the last people off. It was nice to be in the terminal with hardly anyone there – makes for finding your bags much easier! We met our Uber at the curb and were off to the airport. Final thoughts… Overall, the cruise was lovely. We had a good time as a family. My boys spent a lot of time in Vibe hanging out and making new friends. Across our group, we watched 4 movies in the theaters, visited every lounge/bar on the ship, played so much trivia, and enjoyed the Disney bubble. The service was wonderful, as usual. Everyone I encountered gave a smile and a greeting. The head of hotel stopped me in the hallway, calling me by name, to ask about our toilet issue. I still can’t figure out how he knew it was me. The heat in the common areas was awful. Sometimes even nauseating and unbearable. It was better to walk Deck 4 outside to at least have a breeze than deal with the stifling hall on 4 or 5. I am thankful our staterooms stayed relatively cool but they need to figure out the A/C in the rest of the ship. We woke up at our respective homes in different states the day after disembarking with multiple from our group feeling sick, including (so far) myself, my husband and my mom. Fever, chills, aches…not awesome. Looking back, I remember us saying that our server was not himself the last dinner. He messed up some orders and was much less jovial. We chalked it up to the chaos in the dining room. But then the last morning at breakfast he barely said a word and made a bunch of mistakes. Then he just disappeared. We said we hoped he was ok and that we were sorry we didn’t get to say goodbye. Now I’m wondering if he was ill. It’s a hard position for those working on a cruise ship. On land you would just call in sick, but on the ship I feel like they are more likely to try and push through. It put a damper on our good experience. Now that we are also not feeling great it really leaves a bad taste. I know there is not much that can be done and people get sick all the time but this is the second time we have come off a cruise ship sick (our Alaska cruise on Celebrity last summer ended with covid). In the last year we have also gone to Europe, Disney World, Hawaii, visited family, 2 college tour trips, and to 5 different travel baseball tournaments and no one has gotten sick after these. It will make us think long and hard about booking another cruise.  

Earning My Ears

Loved your review! We were on the cruise as well and shared many of your same thoughts! The heat was terrible! Even in our room. We noted this to guest services many times and were told basically the same thing, with the addition of it being the oldest ship in the fleet. We asked for a fan or something for our room (deck 6 aft) and were told the room was as cold as it would get and there were no fans available. We also noted an odor in our bathroom. One time my husband remarked that it smelled like a port o potty in there. The lack of merchandise on the ship and on Castaway were also noted by my husband and myself. On the positive side, we also had an amazing service team and the food was mostly spot on (our January cruise on the Fantasy was the total opposite). We loved the trivia and also attended almost every one and did most of the drawing classes and things like that. It was our first time on one of the smaller ships (we have previously only been on the Dream and Fantasy) and we liked the smaller size. We (well me, my husband seems fine so far) seemed to have brought a bit of a bug home as well.  

• Aug 13, 2023

2boysmommy said: DAY 6 – Miami, FL We woke up early to the Port of Miami. I’m always super thankful to have the late seating on disembarkation day. I was able to shower and get ready, make sure the teenagers were up and going, and finish the last-minute packing without feeling rushed. Breakfast was back in Rapunzel’s and was fine. We said goodbye to our assistant server and went out to sit in Soul Cat Lounge while we waited for the chaos to clear. My family had a 3:00 PM flight from FLL so we weren’t in any rush to get off the ship. The rest of the group had a 6:30 PM flight so they had rented a car for the day and my SIL left to go pick it up and come back for them. We took some final photos in the atrium and were some of the last people off. It was nice to be in the terminal with hardly anyone there – makes for finding your bags much easier! We met our Uber at the curb and were off to the airport. Final thoughts… Overall, the cruise was lovely. We had a good time as a family. My boys spent a lot of time in Vibe hanging out and making new friends. Across our group, we watched 4 movies in the theaters, visited every lounge/bar on the ship, played so much trivia, and enjoyed the Disney bubble. The service was wonderful, as usual. Everyone I encountered gave a smile and a greeting. The head of hotel stopped me in the hallway, calling me by name, to ask about our toilet issue. I still can’t figure out how he knew it was me. The heat in the common areas was awful. Sometimes even nauseating and unbearable. It was better to walk Deck 4 outside to at least have a breeze than deal with the stifling hall on 4 or 5. I am thankful our staterooms stayed relatively cool but they need to figure out the A/C in the rest of the ship. We woke up at our respective homes in different states the day after disembarking with multiple from our group feeling sick, including (so far) myself, my husband and my mom. Fever, chills, aches…not awesome. Looking back, I remember us saying that our server was not himself the last dinner. He messed up some orders and was much less jovial. We chalked it up to the chaos in the dining room. But then the last morning at breakfast he barely said a word and made a bunch of mistakes. Then he just disappeared. We said we hoped he was ok and that we were sorry we didn’t get to say goodbye. Now I’m wondering if he was ill. It’s a hard position for those working on a cruise ship. On land you would just call in sick, but on the ship I feel like they are more likely to try and push through. It put a damper on our good experience. Now that we are also not feeling great it really leaves a bad taste. I know there is not much that can be done and people get sick all the time but this is the second time we have come off a cruise ship sick (our Alaska cruise on Celebrity last summer ended with covid). In the last year we have also gone to Europe, Disney World, Hawaii, visited family, 2 college tour trips, and to 5 different travel baseball tournaments and no one has gotten sick after these. It will make us think long and hard about booking another cruise. Click to expand...

DIS Veteran

• Aug 26, 2023

Enjoyed your review and agreed with most of it, but we were on the August 14th sailing of the same itinerary and didn't have any heat issues in the common areas, so not sure if it was just your cruise or they fixed something, but I thought I'd let you know. In fact, our stateroom (interior on Deck 7) was probably the coldest DCL stateroom we've ever had. Our only disappointments were that a) Cabanas is not open for dinner and that they've still not started the Post Pirate Night Party buffet back, and b) you are right, there was a severe lack of 25th anniversary merchandise.  

• Aug 27, 2023

Can you share the name of the Catamaran charter? We’ll be there in January and that sounds awesome.  

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The Disney Cruise Line Blog

An unofficial disney cruise line news, information, weather, and photo blog..

Disney Magic Returns to Service After 21-Night Dry Dock with New Places to Lounge

Ahead of the 25th Anniversary her maiden voyage, the Disney Magic is fresh out of a 21-night dry dock in Freeport, Bahamas. The fleets first ship spent most of the time out of the water for routine cleaning, paint, and upgrades. Leading up to the dry dock, Disney Cruise Line was quiet, only mentioning they would be converting a block of staterooms on deck 8 to concierge level . Marking today, as the big reveal when guests are welcomed aboard.

The big upgrade to the ship was shore power technology which was installed as part of the ship’s dry dock project. This is part of Disney Cruise Line’s longtime dedication to minimizing its impact on the environment. When available at the port, this will allow the Disney Magic to “plug in” to the port’s electrical grid, reducing the ship’s emissions.

Soul Cat Lounge

The popular Promenade Lounge on deck 3 between Lumiere’s and Rapunzel’s Royal Table has been re-imagined into Soul Cat Lounge taking inspiration from the movie 2020 Disney and Pixar film Soul .

Soul Cat Lounge Menu

The heartfelt story of “Soul” was the inspiration for the brand-new Soul Cat Lounge designed to look like Joe Gardner’s favorite music spot from the film, the Half Note Lounge. The space, located on deck three near Rapunzel’s Royal Table restaurant, instantly transports guests to a classic New York jazz club appointed with decorative details like brick walls, wood accents and plenty of rich leather seating around a stage set for live music, so guests can grab their partner and head to the dance floor for a swinging good time each evening.

The Soul Cat Lounge is adorned with custom artwork from Pixar featuring nods to the film including record labels, concert posters and portraits of jazz legend Dorothea Williams and her bandmates. Thoughtful “Soul”- inspired details are subtly layered throughout the design including record players, instruments and Joe’s hat.

Adults can enhance their big city experience with table-side Manhattans and martinis or choose from a selection of native brews and cocktails made with New York spirits. A fun collection of mocktails, specialty coffees and sodas are also on the menu. In addition to new drink options, guests can take a bite of Little Italy with an order of zeppoles, the classic Italian pastry similar to a fried doughnut, while enjoying the live music.

To support the additional concierge staterooms, the Concierge Lounge was expanded. The concierge lounge was reimagined and expanded to feature a sophisticated new theme and tropical color palate inspired by Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Moana” and an additional outdoor covered seating area on deck 10 where guests can relax with a refreshing beverage while enjoying the ocean breeze. All concierge suites, including one- and two-bedroom accommodations and the two signature royal suites, have been completely refurbished with fresh fixtures, furniture and elegant artwork, further elevating the premium experience for concierge guests.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by ✨Tink's Magical Vacations✨ (@tinks_magical_vacations)

“An Encanto Celebration” Brings the Family Madrigal to the High Seas for the First Time

Guests can join the fantastical family Madrigal during an all-new immersive experience, “An Encanto Celebration,” designed to engage families through music, crafts and storytelling. The interactive experience gives guests an opportunity to meet and take photos with Mirabel and the family member we don’t talk about, Bruno, during their Disney Cruise Line debut. Families can also join a spirited sing-along of beloved “Encanto” songs and create butterfly and flower crafts inspired by the film. During the show, guests can experience a true taste of South America thanks to a selection of local Colombian beers, cocktails and sodas along with film-inspired mocktails.

This article will be updated as we learn of any additional changes to the ship that started it all back in 1998. Special thanks to those onboard such as Siren Chudgar who has been kind enough to share some photos.

The Disney Magic sets sail later this afternoon with guests from San Juan on an 8-night Southern Caribbean cruise. The Disney Magic will sail an additional Southern Caribbean cruise afterwards before repositioning to Miami where the ship will be based through September. In October, the Magic will head west through the Panama Canal taking over the Disney Wonder’s itineraries in San Diego into mid-December.

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13 Replies to “Disney Magic Returns to Service After 21-Night Dry Dock with New Places to Lounge”

Has the chandelier peeling been fixed?

Any update or improvement to the WiFi service?

Where does the Encanto Experience take place?

A beignet by any other name is a zeppole!

I hear you, Dawn; my exact thought when I saw the photo. 🙂

Any idea if “An Encanto Celebration” is a new addition or if it is replacing “Disney Dreams” or “Twice Charmed” as an evening show in the Walt Disney Theatre? The DCL website doesn’t yet say (granted it also still lists the Promenade Lounge).

An Encanto Celebration is not a Walt Disney Theatre show replacement. It will beheld in D-Lounge. Think of it more along the lines of A Frozen day of fun where there were a number of activities and experiences themed around Frozen.

So sad they didn’t add the detective thing like on other boats.

339 days. Please keep the ship tidy until we get there. : P

What about sofa replacement? I hard those were getting a bit rough.

I just read in the Disney Cruise Blog that the first Encanto Experience debuted in the D-Lounge on the Magic on May 12th, 2023 at 2pm; to a packed house and a standing room only performance of sing-a- long songs, crafts and speacialty drinks for kids & adults; South American inspired with coffee, soda or alcohol… depending on who the drink is for; something for everyone.

Did they refresh anything in the non-concierge rooms?

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We compared every aspect of Disney's largest and smallest cruise ships. Here's what it's like to sail on each.

• Jill sailed on the Disney Magic, the Disney Cruise Line's original and smallest cruise ship.
• Amanda sailed on the Disney Wish, the company's newest and biggest ship.
• Our writers compared the cabins, restaurants, entertainment, and overall experiences on both. 

Jill and her family rode on the Magic, the oldest and smallest ship in Disney's fleet.

Disney's oldest ship, the Magic , first set sail in 1998. The boat measures 984 feet long, and can hold up to 2,713 passengers in 875 staterooms — making it the smallest cruise ship in Disney's current fleet.

The ship has three themed restaurants and is focused on a lot of Disney's original staple characters, like Mickey, Minnie, and Goofy. 

Each Disney cruise ship has a bronze statue of a character in the atrium. Since this is the original Disney cruise ship, the Magic's statue is Mickey Mouse dressed as a helmsman steering the wheel of his ship.

In another nod to the originals, Goofy can be found painting on the stern of the Disney Magic.

Amanda rode on the Wish, Disney's biggest and newest ship.

The Disney Wish officially set sail for the first time in 2022. The boat measures 1,119 feet long, and can hold up to 4,000 passengers in 1,254 staterooms — making it the biggest cruise ship in Disney's current fleet.

It's also unique in representing all of Disney's entities: classic princesses, Mickey Mouse and his crew, Pixar, Star Wars, and Marvel.

The characters can be found through more than 4,000 art pieces onboard, three themed restaurants that are included in the cruise, and Disney's first theme-park attraction found on a boat.

In the main lobby of the Disney Wish, you'll find a bronze statue of Cinderella with her furry friends around her and a glass slipper nearby. In front of the boat, Rapunzel is hanging from her hair while painting the stern.

Jill, her husband, and her two kids set sail on the Disney Magic for $2,570.

One reason I booked this trip is because my goal is to go on all five Disney Cruise ships before the upcoming Disney Treasure is scheduled for delivery in 2024. 

I snagged a last-minute booking on the Magic and selected a standard inside stateroom for myself, my husband, and two 12-year-old sons. This was the cheapest option for a stateroom at the time of booking.

We paid $2,570 for a three-night cruise out of Miami. This price included dining and onboard activities and entertainment .

I splurged on a massage and champagne tasting, but otherwise focused on keeping spending at a minimum.

After a few boarding issues, Amanda and her sister set sail on the Disney Wish for $2,707.52.

My journey to experience the Disney Wish wasn't an easy one.

Shortly after I booked a trip on one of the first Disney Wish sailings for June 2022, Disney canceled because the ship's construction wasn't complete.

I then rescheduled for a date in July, but was denied boarding when my sister tested positive for COVID-19 at the port .

Luckily, I made it onto the ship for a three-day cruise to the Bahamas in early September. My sister and I opted for the cheapest accommodation — an inside stateroom with no window — and paid $2,707.52 for our trip .

We also chose not to purchase any add-ons — like spa services or island excursions — and didn't eat at any signature restaurants where you have to pay for your meals.

This was Jill's first time staying in an inside stateroom.

An inside stateroom has no window and shares three walls with other staterooms.

Fortunately, we received an automatic upgrade to a deluxe inside stateroom, which gave us an extra 30 square feet and a split bathroom . The value of the upgrade was $47.

The stateroom attendant cleaned each morning and did a turndown service at night, converting the couch to bunk beds. Evening turndown service included chocolates and a different towel animal every night.

Amanda said her stateroom felt fit for a princess despite being small.

Our room was decorated with "Cinderella" decor and truly felt fit for a princess — even if it had no window and was small, measuring 169 square feet.

Like Jill experienced on her cruise, staff cleaned our room each morning and turned it down at night with chocolates and towel animals.

Jill was surprised by how much space they actually had.

Room 2601 had a closet, a narrow chest of drawers, and an under-the-bed storage space for suitcases. There were also drawers inside the desk, on either side of the bed, and in the bathroom.

Amanda's room was the perfect size for two people.

The queen bed easily fit two people, though you could also choose to sleep on the pullout couch for more room. 

There was also plenty of space for our luggage both under the bed and in the many cabinets and closets located across from the sleeping area.

Jill's stateroom was narrow, but there was enough room for a family who spent little time there.

The space that felt the most narrow was the area between the bed and the dresser. I liked our location on the second deck because we could go up one flight of stairs and be where all the action was.

Amanda was especially impressed with the bathroom, which felt luxurious for being so tiny.

It was brightly lit with multiple shelves, provided toiletries, and even had a small tub inside.

I'm not sure that we would have loved the stateroom if we were traveling with more people, but for two of us, it was the perfect size.

Jill could choose from three restaurants on the Disney Magic.

The Disney Magic has three main restaurants that are part of Disney Cruise Line's rotational dining system.

Guests are assigned a team of servers, and the servers rotate through the various restaurants with the passengers. Since my family sailed on a three-night cruise, we visited each of the restaurants — Rapunzel's Royal Table, Lumiere's, and Animator's Palette — once.  

Passengers could choose between main seating — 5:45 p.m. — and second seating — 8:00 p.m. — but we chose the latter. We always pick this time because I don't think early dining offers enough transition time between day and evening activities. 

All menus had a "lighter fare" section with a salad, and plainer foods, such as basic steak and chicken. There were also vegetarian options. Each dessert menu also offered a no-sugar-added option and a different sundae each night. My husband is a huge fan of ice cream, so it was fun to see the different sundae concoctions at each meal.

Amanda also had three options on the Wish.

Like other Disney ships, there are three rotational restaurants on board. Guests are assigned a specific restaurant each night of their cruise, and they remain with the same guests and servers at their table.

As for menu options, there are simple dishes for light meals, vegetarian snacks, full courses, and more dessert than you could eat in one sitting.

We had the same two seating options to choose from and we had to choose the latter. The earlier option was filled when we booked the trip.

That said, we ended up preferring the later option. We didn't find ourselves hungry until later in the day because we snacked so much at buffets, and the later spot gave us more time to participate in activities.

Jill's family enjoyed Rapunzel's Royal Table, the Magic's "Tangled"-themed restaurant.

Rapunzel's Royal Table had a ceiling aglow with the sun-embossed lanterns that are the hallmark of the movie the restaurant is named for.

The menu was mostly heavy, German-inspired fare, such as pretzel bread, cream soups, roasted chicken, and prime rib. Sadly, this was my least-favorite menu at the rotational restaurants because it was so heavy, and the dishes weren't plated nicely.

Still, the atmosphere and entertainment made up for it.

Rapunzel's Royal Table dinner entertainment includes skits and songs. The finale was Rapunzel and Flynn Ryder singing their signature ballad as the servers filed through the restaurant with lanterns. My family enjoyed the singing even though we were seated at the rear of the dining room and couldn't see much of the show.

Jill's family also ate at Lumiere's, a traditional, French-inspired restaurant named for the candlestick from "Beauty and the Beast."

The "Beauty and the Beast" theming was so subtle it was almost nonexistent, but I enjoyed the classic, slightly formal atmosphere.

The menu featured tons of French-style dishes, like escargot gratinés, iced lobster and jumbo shrimp, chateaubriand, and crème brûlée.

Lastly, Jill's family visited the Animator's Palette.

Animator's Palette is animation themed, with rudimentary black-and-white drawings on the walls that take shape with more color and detail as dinner progresses.

My favorite menu items were the ginger-dusted Angus beef teriyaki filet with wasabi mashed potatoes, black-truffle pasta pursiettes, and the butternut-squash soup.  

Dinner entertainment was animation magic. Upon being seated, guests were given a coloring sheet and markers and instructed to create their stick figure style drawing.

The waiters collected the sheets, which magically turned into animated characters who moved, danced, jumped, and interacted with Disney favorites on the big screens around the restaurant.

Amanda had a decent experience at The Worlds of Marvel restaurant.

The Worlds of Marvel restaurant celebrates Ant-Man, the Wasp, and other beloved superheroes.

It's originally dark and moody inside, but later lights up with neon lights, giant TV screens, and Quantum Core technology located on each table.

The food is also unique and entirely inspired by the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Dishes include steamed-bao buns, "Wakandan" salads, steak, and more.

Though I enjoyed eating there, the restaurant wasn't my favorite. I'm not a huge Marvel fan, and I would only order one of the dishes I ate — the Golden Mystic pasta — again. The entertainment was also mostly shown on a screen, which made it feel less special.

Amanda was blown away by the Wish's Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure.

The Disney Wish is also home to Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure.

From the minute you step inside, you feel as though you've been transported into the animated franchise. Each room is decorated to look like ones seen on screen, and musicians play fan-favorite songs in the middle of the room.

Characters like Oaken, Anna, Elsa, and even Olaf are also present during the Norwegian-inspired dinner. Our table indulged in Frozen Fractal cocktails, scallops with a flaky pastry side, Sven's favorite carrot soup, and a butter cake called Kvafjordkake .

If this restaurant existed at Disney World or Disneyland , I would visit regularly. The food was spectacular, the entertainers were Broadway level, and the opportunities for guest participation were unique.

Our table, which consisted of six girls in our mid-20s, was even chosen to form a conga line and sing "Love Is an Open Door" for the entire restaurant — an experience I'll never forget.

Lastly, Amanda experienced 1923 — she said it was nice but forgettable compared to the other two.

Finally, there's 1923, a restaurant inspired by Walt Disney Studios and the year the company was founded.

Though still casual compared to the signature restaurants on the ship, it's arguably the fanciest of the three rotational options. Guests arrived in evening dresses and 1920s attire during my trip, and the atmosphere was comparable to a giant jazz bar.

The menu, on the other hand, was pretty standard, with appetizers like tortelloni and entrees like salmon. 

I enjoyed the food and calm atmosphere, but would have preferred to eat at this restaurant first if I'd had the choice. The other two restaurants were so exciting and interactive that this one felt almost forgettable when visited afterward.

Jill and her family also visited the Magic's buffet.

Located on deck nine, Cabanas is the ship's buffet.

Its breakfast offerings included eggs, sausage, bacon, Mickey waffles, fresh fruit, cereal, baked goods, an omelet station, and just about anything else you could think of for breakfast.

The buffet food was good but the layout felt crowded and chaotic .

Amanda was also overwhelmed by the buffet.

The main buffet on the Disney Wish is called Marceline Market. To my sister and my's surprise, the location had just about every type of food you could imagine.

There was a breakfast bar, dessert section, and countless lunch options available — from sandwiches and salads to seafood. It was almost overwhelming.

The market was also extremely crowded, with adults and children carrying giant plates of food every which way. That said, it was tough to find a table that wasn't occupied by another family.

So although we weren't overly impressed by the area or dishes we tried — many items were cold — there were so many other options that, if we'd had time, we likely would have found something to our tastes.

Jill also experienced a few quick-service options on the ship.

I was never hungry or had to look too hard or long to find food.

Quick-service food options on deck include Pinocchio's Pizza (pizza), Duck-In Diner (burgers, chicken fingers, and fries), and Daisy's De-Lites (salads, sandwiches, and lighter fare).

Amanda was really impressed by the quick-service meals and beverages.

Surprisingly, quick-service meals at Mickey and Friends Festival of Foods were some of the best my sister and I had during our trip.

I couldn't get enough of the chicken tenders at Goofy's Grill, and my sister loved making her own bowls at Donald's Cantina. 

We also enjoyed the endless free refills of soda, coffee, and ice cream cones that were available for most of the day.

Jill skipped the pools and slides like they usually do because they can get so crowed.

There were two family-friendly pools on deck nine, Goofy's Pool and the Huey, Dewey, and Louie Pool. Goofy's Pool is the largest of the two pools (this is not to say the pool is all that large) and has a Funnel Vision screen where passengers can watch Disney movies.

The Magic has two water slides, the Twist 'n' Spout, and the AquaDunk, which is a drop slide. 

There are two splash pads, Nephews Splash Zone and the Aqua Lab. Kids must be three and potty trained to use all the water amenities except Nephews' Splash Zone.

The adult-only area also has a pool and two hot tubs.

Me and my family did not use the pools or slides on this cruise . We usually avoid pools on Disney Cruise Lines because we don't like dealing with the crowds. 

Amanda also skipped the pools but enjoyed some of the other water activities.

The Disney Wish is home to multiple pools. There are four on the main deck that face a giant TV screen, three pools on the deck above, two adults-only pools, and a "quiet" pool on the top deck.

There's also a children's splash zone inspired by "Toy Story" and the AquaMouse water ride that wraps around the ship.

Like Jill and her family, my sister and I didn't spend any time inside the pools because they were constantly filled with people. We did, however, ride the AquaMouse and highly recommend it.

Jill's cruise stopped in Nassau and Castaway Cay, but they skipped the former port.

We did not get off the ship in Nassau because we'd been there before and wanted to use the time to enjoy the ship's amenities.

My family's Castaway Cay day was a success — we snorkeled, swam, and had a buffet lunch complete with lots of ice cream. We achieved their goal of staying on budget by skipping alcohol and bringing our own snorkel gear.

Amanda's ship also stopped at Nassau and Castaway Cay, and she also skipped the former to enjoy on-board activities.

The Disney Wish currently stops in Nassau and Castaway Cay.

My sister and I didn't visit the former spot because there were so many activities on board that we wanted to experience. Instead, we experienced the Bahamas via Castaway Cay — a spot that we loved.

We snorkeled, enjoyed the adults-only beach, and rented bikes for $10 each that we used to get around the island.

With so many youth activities, Jill said she hardly saw her kids.

My two kids took advantage of the Oceaneer Club, which is for kids 3 to 12, and Edge, which is for kids 11 to 14. There's also Vibe for kids 14 to 17 and a nursery for kids under 3.

Anyone can explore the kids' areas during several open houses, which are listed in the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app.

My entire family agreed that the teen club, designed to look like a New York City loft complete with a smoothie bar, was the coolest space. My tweens participated in joint activities with the teen club, including a flash-mob performance.  

All of the kids' programming except the nursery are included in the cost of the cruise and don't require reservations. The kids' activities happen all day and all night and I saw little of my kids because they were hanging with new friends.  

Amanda enjoyed the activities for adults and felt welcome at a few that seemed angled toward children.

My sister and I were originally nervous to board a Disney cruise as two women in our mid-20s. Would there be more kids than adults onboard? And would there be any activities for people our age?

We did feel overpowered by children at times, but we still had fun. Via our dinner table, we met two other sets of sisters who were in our age range, and we spent time with them throughout the trip.

We also took advantage of adult-catered activities like walking tours and scrapbook classes when possible.

And to our surprise, even the activities meant for kids, like the "Incredibles"-themed obstacle course, welcomed adults, so we got to do that too.

Jill said the Disney Magic had Broadway-quality entertainment.

My three-night sailing included "Tangled: The Musical," "Disney Dreams: An Enchanted Classic," and a comedy/magic show.

The evening shows are aligned with the assigned dining rotation. Guests who have early dinner go to the show after they eat while guests who have second seating go to their show before dinner. There's no assigned seating but shows fill up early. I suggest arriving 30 minutes before showtime.

The "Tangled" show is exclusive for the Disney Magic and I think it's a must-see. The hour-long stage show is an abbreviated version of the animated movie and manages to hit all the high points and favorite songs, like" I Have a Dream" and "At Last I See the Light" and other popular tunes from "Tangled."

"Dreams" is a montage of favorite Disney songs and characters. The main character is a young girl who learns to believe in herself through visits from beloved characters such as Peter Pan, Aladdin, and more. The production was flawless but "Dreams," which I also saw on another Disney cruise, is not my favorite. 

Other entertainment included comedy, game shows, and trivia, all listed in the Navigator app. There was a mix of both family-friendly events in the D Lounge and adults-only events in the designated After Hours area.

There was also musical entertainment throughout the cruise, such as pianists and singing duos playing various genres of music. I didn't hone in on any of the musical entertainment. It felt mostly like background noise, not something I felt compelled to stop and watch.

Amanda was also impressed by the almost Broadway-level productions on the ship.

A highlight of the Disney Wish is its three Broadway shows — all of which were created for the new ship. Currently, there's "Disney Seas the Adventure," "Disney The Little Mermaid," and "Disney's Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular."

We definitely preferred some shows over others — the stage take on "Aladdin" was our favorite. We also spent an hour in line to enter the theater before each show. Seats filled up fast.

But we found ourselves looking forward to each production, and once our vacation was over, we joked about driving to New York City to attend a Broadway show each night.

Overall, Jill enjoyed sailing on a smaller ship and felt the trip was worth the cost.

In addition to the Magic, I've also sailed on the Dream (second-biggest ship in the fleet) and Wonder (second-smallest ship in the fleet).

Still, the smaller ships are my favorite because they feel more intimate and easier to navigate. I was happy with how much I spent , my accommodations, and the ship overall.

That said, the Magic did show a few gentle signs of wear and tear, like peeling wallpaper in some common areas and a broken spring on the couch in my room. It wasn't a big deal to me at all, but I definitely think newer ships will have a fresher look. 

Overall, Amanda had a good time but isn't sure the cruise is worth the high price.

During our trip, my sister and I had trouble moving past the price of our vacation. Though we loved almost every minute of it, nearly $3,000 felt like a lot to pay for a three-day vacation that at times felt very rushed. 

So if we had to pick between a Disney cruise and a stay at Disney World, we'd pick the latter.

That said, our time on the Disney Wish was unlike anything we'd ever experienced, and I find myself growing fonder of it as time goes on. I miss the buffet, the beautiful beach at Castaway Cay, and even the $3 popcorn we ordered before each theater show.

So although I'm not sure if I'd book the same vacation again or regularly, I'd definitely say it's worth taking at least one Disney cruise.

• Main content

Finding Your Ideal Disney Cruise Length: A Comprehensive Guide for 2025-2026

As a seasoned Disney Cruise Line enthusiast and father of two, I’ve experienced firsthand the magic of Disney voyages of various durations. My wife Jaimie and I have taken our children, Ben and Ava, on everything from quick weekend getaways to extended sailings, and each trip has its own unique charm. Whether you’re considering a short Disney cruise or an extended Disney voyage , choosing the ideal length for your Disney cruise can significantly impact your vacation experience. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the pros and cons of different cruise durations to help you find the perfect fit for your family.

Prefer to Speak With Someone? Get Free Help From Our Favorite Disney Travel Agent!

Disney Cruise Lengths: An Overview

Disney Cruise Line offers a wide range of itineraries, typically spanning from 2 to 15 nights. Here’s a quick breakdown:

• 2-3 Night Cruises : Perfect for a quick escape
• 4-5 Night Cruises : Ideal for a long weekend or short vacation
• 7 Night Cruises : The classic week-long getaway
• 8-11 Night Cruises : Extended voyages for more in-depth exploration
• 12+ Night Cruises : Ultimate long-haul adventures

Let’s dive deeper into each category to help you determine which length suits your needs best.

Short and Sweet: 2-3 Night Disney Cruises

Image © Disney

Who It’s Best For:

• First-time cruisers wanting to test the waters
• Busy families seeking a quick weekend getaway
• Disney fans looking for a brief dose of magic
• Those on a tighter budget

Advantages:

• The most affordable Disney Cruise option
• Minimal time off work/school required
• Great way to celebrate special occasions
• Perfect for combining with a Walt Disney World vacation

Potential Drawbacks:

• Limited time to explore the ship and enjoy activities
• May feel rushed
• Fewer port stops (often just one, if any)
• Limited dining rotations

Personal Insight:

Our first family cruise was a 3-night Bahamian voyage on the Disney Dream . Ben, who was 5 at the time, summed it up perfectly: “It’s like a floating Disney World, but I wish it were longer!” While we felt we barely scratched the surface of what the ship had to offer, it was an excellent introduction to cruising for our family.

For more details on these quick trips, check out our comprehensive guide to 3-Night Disney Cruises .

The Long Weekend: 4-5 Night Disney Cruises

• Families wanting a more relaxed pace than shorter cruises
• Those seeking a balance of ship time and port experiences
• Travelers with limited vacation time but wanting more than a weekend getaway
• More time to enjoy ship amenities and activities
• Usually includes 1-2 port stops
• Full dining rotation experience plus possible theme night
• Better value compared to shorter cruises
• May require more time off work/school
• Higher overall cost than 2-3 night cruises
• It still may feel short for some travelers

Our 5-night Western Caribbean cruise on the Disney Fantasy was a game-changer for our family. Ava said, “I finally had enough time to do everything I wanted!” This length gave us the perfect balance of relaxation and adventure.

For a deep dive into these popular options, explore our guide on 4-Night Disney Cruises .

The Classic Choice: 7 Night Disney Cruises

• Families looking for a full vacation experience
• Those wanting to fully unwind and embrace “cruise life”
• Travelers interested in visiting multiple destinations
• The ideal balance of sea days and port visits
• Time to explore the ship thoroughly
• Multiple formal nights and special events
• Often the best value in terms of price per night
• Higher overall cost
• Requires more time off work/school
• It may be too long for those prone to seasickness

Our 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise remains Jaimie’s favorite. She loved the pace, saying, “It was long enough to truly feel like we’d escaped the real world, but not so long that we got antsy.” This length also allowed us to visit multiple ports, giving the kids a taste of different Caribbean cultures.

Curious about week-long voyages? Our 7-Night Disney Cruise Guide and Are 7-Night Disney Cruises Too Long article have all the necessary details.

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Extended Voyages: 8-11 Night Disney Cruises

• Experienced cruisers seeking more in-depth itineraries
• Families with longer vacation periods
• Those interested in unique destinations or themed sailings
• Visit more ports or spend more time in each destination
• Opportunity for more sea days to enjoy ship amenities
• Often include special activities or enrichment programs
• Great for multi-generational family trips
• It may be too long for some travelers
• Limited availability compared to shorter cruises

While we haven’t personally taken an 8-11 night Disney cruise yet, our friends, the Jeffries, recently returned from a 9-night Mediterranean cruise from Civitavecchia (Rome). They raved about the experience, with Sarah Jeffries noting, “It was the perfect length to really immerse ourselves in the destinations while still enjoying all the Disney magic onboard.”

Ultimate Adventures: 12+ Night Disney Cruises

• Disney Cruise Line enthusiasts
• Retirees or those with extended vacation time
• Travelers seeking exotic or multiple-country itineraries
• Most immersive Disney Cruise experience
• Visit unique and far-flung destinations, including the Panama Canal
• There is plenty of time to form connections with crew and fellow passengers
• Often the best value per night
• Usually has multiple “Days at Sea” with no port stops — perfect to explore the ship
• Highest overall cost
• Requires significant time off work/school
• It may be too long for families with young children
• Limited sailing options

My friend Jason’s parents recently celebrated their 40th anniversary with a 12-night Disney cruise. His Dad said, “It was like two vacations in one – a relaxing cruise and a European adventure. The length was perfect for really unwinding and making the most of the journey.”

Factors to Consider When Choosing Your Cruise Length

• Budget : Longer cruises have a higher overall cost but often offer better value per night. Compare options using our guide on How Much Disney Cruises Cost .
• Available Time : Consider work and school schedules when selecting your cruise length.
• Desired Destinations : Some locations, like Alaska or Europe, are better suited to longer itineraries. Check out our guides on Alaskan Disney Cruises and European Disney Cruises for more information.
• Family Dynamics : Consider the ages and interests of your travel party. Younger children may do better on shorter cruises, while teenagers might prefer longer voyages with more port stops.
• Cruise Experience : First-timers might prefer a shorter cruise, while experienced cruisers may opt for longer voyages. Our Tips for First-Time Disney Cruisers can help newcomers navigate their options.
• Season : Check our Best Time to Go on a Disney Cruise guide to align your preferred length with optimal sailing dates. Remember, hurricane season can impact Caribbean itineraries, while Alaskan cruises are limited to summer months.
• Ship Preference : Some ships are better suited for longer cruises due to their amenities. Explore our Ranking Disney Cruise Ships guide to find the best fit for your desired cruise length.

Tips for Making the Most of Any Cruise Length

• Plan Ahead : Use the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app to pre-book activities and dining. This is especially crucial for shorter cruises where time is limited.
• Consider Stateroom Type : Longer cruises might warrant upgrading to a more spacious cabin. Explore options in our Best Staterooms on Disney Cruise Line guide . On our 7-night cruise, we opted for a Verandah room instead of an Oceanview or Inside room. Jaimie insists it was “worth every penny for those quiet mornings at sea.”
• Balance Activities : Mix relaxation with adventure, regardless of cruise length. On our 4-night cruise, we made sure to schedule downtime between port adventures and onboard activities.
• Extend Your Vacation : Consider adding pre or post-cruise stays at nearby destinations. We often combine our Disney cruises from Port Canaveral with a few days at Walt Disney World.
• Book Smart : Look for deals during the Cheapest Month for Disney Cruises to maximize value. We’ve found great rates on longer cruises during shoulder seasons.
• Pack Wisely : Longer cruises require more strategic packing. Check out our Packing List for a Disney Cruise guide for tips on efficient packing for any cruise length.
• Budget for Extras : Remember that longer cruises may mean more opportunities for additional expenses like shore excursions, spa treatments, and specialty dining. Our guide on Ways to Save Money on Disney Cruises can help you manage these costs.

Disney Cruise Line vs Other Cruise Lines: Length Comparisons

While Disney Cruise Line offers a range of cruise lengths, it’s worth comparing options with other cruise lines. Here’s a quick comparison:

• Comparing Disney Cruises to Norwegian Cruises : Norwegian tends to offer more variety in cruise lengths, including some longer itineraries that Disney doesn’t match. However, Disney’s level of service and family-friendly focus remains consistent across all cruise lengths.
• Comparing Disney Cruises to Royal Caribbean Cruises : Royal Caribbean offers more options for very long cruises (15+ nights) and has a larger fleet, allowing for more diverse itineraries. Disney, however, maintains a more intimate feel even on longer cruises.
• Comparing Disney Cruises vs Carnival Cruises : Carnival specializes in shorter, budget-friendly cruises, making them a strong competitor for Disney’s 3-4 night offerings. However, Disney’s immersive theming and entertainment often justify the higher price point, especially for Disney fans.

For families with children, Disney Cruise Line often comes out on top regardless of cruise length. Our guides to the Top Cruise Line for Kids and Recommended Disney Cruise Ships for Kids explore this in more detail.

FAQs About Disney Cruise Lengths

• What’s the shortest Disney Cruise available? Currently, the shortest Disney Cruises are 2-night sailings, primarily offered on some Australian/New Zealand itineraries.
• Are longer cruises always better value? While longer cruises often have a lower per-night cost, the best value depends on your personal preferences and budget. Sometimes, a well-timed short cruise can offer excellent value, especially when combined with onboard credit offers for Disney Cruises .
• How do Disney Cruise lengths compare to other cruise lines? Disney offers a cruise length similar to most major cruise lines. However, Disney tends to have fewer ultra-long itineraries (15+ nights) compared to some competitors.
• Can I experience everything on a short Disney Cruise? While you can get a taste of the Disney Cruise experience on a short sailing, it’s challenging to do everything the ship offers in just 2-3 nights. Longer cruises allow for a more relaxed pace and fuller experience, especially in 7-night+ cruises.
• How does cruise length affect dining options ? Longer cruises allow you to experience Disney’s rotational dining system more fully and provide more opportunities to try specialty restaurants like Palo and Remy . On our 7-night cruise, we enjoyed Palo twice!

Finding Your Perfect Disney Cruise Length

Ultimately, the ideal Disney Cruise length depends on your unique circumstances and preferences. Whether you opt for a quick 3-night getaway or an extended 14-night adventure, Disney Cruise Line’s legendary service and entertainment ensure a magical experience.

In our family’s experience, 5-7 night cruises have been the sweet spot, offering enough time to truly unwind and enjoy the ship while still fitting within school vacation periods . However, we’ve enjoyed cruises of all lengths for different reasons.

Remember, the best cruise length is the one that fits your family’s needs and dreams . Don’t hesitate to mix it up – try different lengths on future cruises to find your sweet spot! See our 2025 Disney Cruises and 2026 Disney Cruises to find the right fit. Alternatively, you can contact The Vacationeer to assist you in planning and booking your Disney Cruise Line adventure!

Let The Vacationeer Help You Find Your Ideal Disney Cruise

Ready to set sail but unsure which cruise length is right for you? Let The Vacationeer be your compass! As a high-rated Disney travel agency , they can help you navigate the sea of choices to find the perfect Disney Cruise Line voyage for your family .

The Vacationeer , a Diamond-Level Authorized Disney Vacation Planner agency, offers a treasure trove of services at no extra cost to you:

• Personalized Recommendations : Get expert advice on choosing the ideal cruise length based on your preferences and budget.
• Exclusive Savings : Access special offers and onboard credits to maximize value.
• Itinerary Selection : Help choosing the perfect cruise dates and destinations.
• Stateroom Guidance : Find the best accommodations for your chosen cruise length.
• Activity Planning : Assistance with pre-booking dining, entertainment, and excursions.
• Logistics Support : Help with pre and post-cruise arrangements.

Remember, The Vacationeer’s services come at no additional cost to you . Their compensation comes from Disney, so you benefit from their expertise without any extra expense.

Don’t let the complexities of choosing the right cruise length dampen your excitement. Let The Vacationeer chart your course to the perfect Disney Cruise adventure!

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Do YOU Qualify for This EXCLUSIVE Magic Kingdom Fireworks Cruise?

Attention DVC Members, we found an EXCLUSIVE way for you to watch the Magic Kingdom’s fireworks.

Since we’re Disney World experts , we’re always looking for ways to help you take your trip to the next level.  Disney Vacation Club Members get all sorts of special perks as it is, but this exclusive fireworks cruise might be the coolest yet.

The Disney Vacation Club Happily Ever After Fireworks Cruise is an exclusive experience for DVC Members that allows them to “enjoy amazing views of the fabulous Magic Kingdom fireworks from a special cruise” around the Seven Seas Lagoon.

The experience — which is not fully private in that there can be multiple parties, but is limited to two boats, with ten passengers per boat — begins at the Contemporary Resort’s Boat Nook. Guests are asked to arrive 1.5 hours before the start of Happily Ever After, and the cruise departs an hour before the show begins.

In addition to viewing the massive Happily Ever After show from the vantage point of the lagoon, the cruise also includes a champagne toast and a sweet and savory treat box and (weather permitting) a “a close-up view” of the legendary Electrical Water Pageant.

While the Magic Kingdom fireworks may be changed or canceled without prior notice due to inclement weather, the the Disney Vacation Club Happily Ever After Fireworks Cruise will “still occur in inclement weather — including rainy and cold weather — but may be modified or canceled due to extreme weather conditions” according to Disney.

The experience costs $85 a person, and due to the limited nature of the experience advance booking is required. Payment is due in full at the time of booking , and cancellations must be made at least 48 hours in advance to avoid forfeiting the full price.

Like other Disney Vacation Club Member exclusives, the experience requires that members “present a valid digital Disney Vacation Club Membership Card along with a corresponding valid photo ID” at check-in.

The Disney Vacation Club Happily Ever After Fireworks Cruise is an exclusive offering for DVC Members that offers a special and limited vantage point for viewing the Magic Kingdom’s nightly spectacular. Stay tuned to AllEars for further coverage of out-of-the-way Disney World offerings.

NEWS: Exclusive After Hours Events Announced for Disney Vacation Club Members in 2025

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Would you be interested in watching the Magic Kingdom’s fireworks from the Seven Seas Lagoon? Let us know in the comments below.

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