Disney Cruise Line Ships by Size and Age

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Disney Wish docked at Port Canaveral, Florida before Christening ceremony

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Disney Cruise Line is a top choice among family cruisers. Disney cruise ships offer an authentic Disney experience with fun for the whole family on the high seas.

The cruise line offers itineraries in the Caribbean, Bahamas, and Alaska. If you sail with Disney, I highly recommend itineraries with stops at their private island, Castaway Cay. 

Below, we’ll look at Disney’s fleet of ships, from the smallest to the biggest ship and the youngest to the newest.

Disney Cruise Ships by Size

Disney Wish sailing in open water renderingPin
Rendering Credit: Disney Cruise Line

Disney’s cruise ships have a lot to offer. In addition to meeting Mickey Mouse, Elsa, and other Disney characters, their ships feature fireworks at sea, spacious cabins, adult-only spaces, elegant decor, incredible dining options, and more.

Disney’s cruise ships aren’t the behemoth vessels sailing for Royal Caribbean or Carnival.

But don’t let that stop you.

Disney cruises are known for their family-friendly offering and incredible entertainment. Disney’s newest Triton-class of ships are on par with some of the mid-sized cruise ships.

Below, you’ll find a list of Disney’s cruise ships by size:

ShipClassGross TonnageLengthPassengers
Disney WishTriton144,000 GT341 m2476
Disney FantasyDream129,750 GT339 m2500
Disney DreamDream129,690 GT339 m2500
Disney WonderMagic84,130 GT294 m1754
Disney MagicMagic83,969 GT294 m1754

Disney Cruise Ships by Age

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Disney has one of the oldest fleets in the cruise industry. DCL’s first vessel, Disney Magic, launched in 1998, shortly followed by Disney Wonder in 1999.

Though most cruise lines strive to innovate with new cruise ships released yearly, Disney seems to have taken a more traditional route. Their ships strongly focus on classic fun for the whole family, with the familiar splash of Disney magic you expect to find from the “House of Mouse.”

However, that is changing with the addition of Disney Wish in 2022. Wish became the first new cruise ship for the line in ten years. The new ship introduced many new thrills, including Cinderella’s Castle at Sea, Worlds of Marvel’s cinematic dining experience, Star Wars: Hyperspace Lounge, A reimagined kids club, and clever new uses of technology to bring magic to “passengers.”

There are three more Disney cruise ships on order, two more Triton-class vessels, and a Global-class cruise ship purchased from the now-defunct Genting Cruise Lines. 

Below, you’ll find a list of Disney’s cruise ships, from the newest to the oldest:

ShipClassBuiltBuilder
Disney WishTriton2022Meyer Werft (Papenburg, Germany)
Disney FantasyDream2012Meyer Werft (Papenburg, Germany)
Disney DreamDream2010Meyer Werft (Papenburg, Germany)
Disney WonderMagic1999Fincantieri (Marghera, Italy)
Disney MagicMagic1998Fincantieri (Marghera, Italy)

Disney Cruise Ship Classes

Disney wish float out with fireworks at meyer werft shipyard in GermanyPin
(Photo Courtesy: Disney Cruise Line)

Disney Cruise Line currently has three ship classes:

ClassShipsSize
TritonDisney Wish144,000 GT
DreamDisney Dream, Disney Fantasy129,690 – 129,750 GT
MagicDisney Magic, Disney Wonder83,000 – 83,338 GT

Disney Cruise Ships on Order

Disney Cruise Line currently has two Triton-class ships on order and a third Global-class vessel. The two new vessels are expected to arrive in July 2024 and August 2025. Disney Adventure, the Global-class cruise ship, is set to launch in late 2025.

FAQs

What is Disney’s Largest Ship?

The largest Disney cruise ship is the Disney Wish at 144,000 GT.

The vessel’s design is spacious and accommodating, with more passenger space than previous Disney ships. Although Disney Wish is 12% larger than the preceding Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy, the new ship carries the same passenger capacity of 4,000.

What is Disney’s Smallest Ship?

At 83,000 GT, Disney Magic is the smallest and oldest Disney cruise ship.

The 964-foot Magic carries only 2,713. The cruise ship is also the shortest, with only 11 decks, compared to 15 on Disney Wish.
Despite her small size, the ship is a favorite among guests, often receiving outstanding reviews from satisfied passengers.

How Many Ships Does Disney Cruise Line Have?

Disney Cruise Line has five cruise ships in operation, with three more under construction.

Disney’s cruise ship fleet includes Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, and Disney Wish. Two more Triton-class ships are currently under construction, with expected delivery in July 2024 and August 2025. A third, Global-class cruise ship is scheduled to be delivered in 2025.

What is the Newest Disney Cruise Ship?

The newest Disney cruise ship is Disney Wish, which debuted in July 2022.

Disney Wish is the first Triton-class vessel with two sister ships on order.

What is the Oldest Disney Cruise Ship?

The oldest Disney cruise ship is the Disney Magic.

Disney Magic was the first vessel in Disney Cruise Line’s fleet and entered service in 1998. Although the ship is over 20 years old, it receives regular updates and refurbishments to keep it fresh for passengers.

Are New Disney Cruise Ships Better?

Newer Disney cruise ships feature better technology, more activities, modern facilities, and updated decor. While old vessels are refreshed every three to five years, they don’t compare to the amenities and features offered by newer cruise ships.

After sailing on the Disney Wish, it’s hard to compare the older vessels, as they lack many new and exciting amenities on the newer Triton-class vessel.

Besides technology, the most significant difference between old and new Disney cruise ships is the vast number of Disney properties represented on the ship. While all Disney cruise ships feature Mickey Mouse, only the latest cruise ships feature themed amenities and characters from Frozen, Marvel, and Star Wars.

What Was the First Disney Cruise Ship?

The first Disney cruise ship was Disney Magic, which launched in 1998.
Disney spent several years trying to strike a deal with Royal Caribbean or Carnival. However, the talks didn’t lead to any partnerships, so the company formed Disney Cruise Line.

Disney Magic was the first cruise ship to enter service for the new cruise line, with Disney Wonder following in 1999.

Article by

Marcello De Lio

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