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Disney Cruises to the Bahamas Disney Cruise Bahamian Itineraries and Shore Excursions

3-night bahamian disney cruises.

The 3 and 4 night Disney cruises are also very popular as an addition to a land-based vacation at Walt Disney World. Many guests start out staying at a Disney resort, and move on to finish their vacation with a relaxing voyage aboard Disney Cruise Line.

3-Night Bahamian Cruise from Fort Lauderdale

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Jingle all the way to Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island, decked out just for the holidays. Enjoy a barbecue lunch, games, Character experiences and an adults-only beach. Back onboard, celebrate the season with winter wonderland décor, holiday parties, festive activities and more on itineraries departing November through Christmas. Check Dates

4-Night Bahamian Disney Cruises

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Jingle all the way to Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island, decked out just for the holidays. Enjoy a barbecue lunch, games, Character experiences and an adults-only beach. Back onboard, celebrate the season with winter wonderland décor, holiday parties, festive activities and more on select itineraries departing November and December. Check Dates

5-Night Bahamian Cruise from Fort Lauderdale with 2 stops at Castaway Cay

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Disney Cruise to the Bahamas Essential Guide 2024

Jill Robbins

Disney Cruise Line (DCL) has five – soon to be eight – ships that sail all over the world. From Europe to Alaska to the newly-added Australia and New Zealand routes, chances are good that Disney sails to at least one of your bucket list destinations. But perhaps no port is as perennially popular as the Bahamas. Finding a Disney cruise that stops in the Bahamas is not hard. In fact, DCL  has such a Bahamian presence that they have one – soon to be two – private islands there.

Bahamas Itineraries

DCL switches up their routes and itineraries every year, but the Bahamas cruises are a constant. Cruise enthusiasts and travel agents eagerly await Disney’s route releases because people want to see which ship is sailing where and whether there are any new routes. There are always a few surprises, but cruise ships sailing from the Florida ports to Nassau and Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay, are a DCL staple.

Disney Cruise Line currently sails to the Bahamas from Port Canaveral, which is about 45 minutes from Orlando and Miami. They’ve also added routes leaving from Fort Lauderdale. Currently, Disney Wish is doing three and four-night cruises to Nassau and Castaway Cay, which looks to be the standard Wish route for the foreseeable future.

The Disney Magic has several 2023 and 2024 Bahamian cruises leaving from Fort Lauderdale The Disney Dream, which is spending this summer and next in Europe, is sailing several Bahamian routes from Fort Lauderdale in 2023 and 2024. The Disney Fantasy sails several Bahamian routes from Port Canaveral and several Eastern and Western Caribbean routes from Port Canaveral, including Castaway Cay stops.

How to Find Cruises

Finding a cruise to the Bahamas , or wherever else you want to go, is easy. Go to the Disney Cruise website and select the “Plan a Cruise” tab toward the top right, then go down to the “Find a Cruise” tab and enter your details. If you want to sail on a particular ship, go to “more filters,” and you can adjust the search only to show you certain ships.

If you want as many options as possible, just pick the destination – I recommend selecting Bahamas cruise and Caribbean cruise if you want to go to the Bahamas – and your dates and see what comes up. Disney sends cruise ships to the Bahamas all year round.

Stops at Nassau in the Bahamas

Veteran Disney cruisers have a habit of not getting off the ship in Nassau, so if you opt to stay on board, expect the ship to be a little more crowded than the average ports of call.

If you want to get off the ship in Nassau and explore, you can walk into town and check out the shops and restaurants. You can also book a shore excursion through Disney Cruise Line or on your own. One of the popular Nassau excursion spots is Atlantis . Atlantis has restaurants, epic water slides, and marine life experiences, such as swimming with dolphins, plus more.

Disney’s Castaway Cay

Disney’s Castaway Cay  (pronounced key) is a 1,000-acre island, 118 km due north of Nassau. Although DCL is the first cruise line to have a private island, most other major cruise lines have followed suit. Castaway Cay and Royal Caribbean’s island, CocoCay are two of the most well-appointed private cruise ship islands. You can only visit Castaway Cay as a cruise ship passenger.

Castaway Cay is the ultimate relaxing beach day, with activities such as snorkeling, bicycling, waterslides, and many opportunities to lounge in the shade. The gorgeous white sand beaches and clear turquoise water can be enjoyed all year round, although the water can get fairly chilly in the winter.

The ship’s kids clubs also relocate to Castaway Cay when the ship is docked at Castaway Cay, so parents who want to have some alone time to get a beach massage or hang out on the adults-only beach, Serenity Bay, have an easy time doing that.

Dining on Castaway Cay

Dining is included on Castaway Cay. Guests are treated to a BBQ buffet that includes burgers, hot dogs, ribs, chicken, and salmon, accompanied by salads, fruit, and desserts. There are two buffet locations, Cookies and Cookies Too, on the family beaches. A third buffet location on the adult-only beach, Serenity Bay, usually has grilled ribeye steaks in addition to the other proteins.

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There are self-service soda fountains and soft-serve ice cream adjacent to each buffet. There are several bars on Castaway Cay, but alcohol isn’t included in your cruise price.

Cabanas on Castaway Cay

There are a limited number of beachfront cabanas available on the family beach and on Serenity Bay. The family cabanas go for around $700 for the day and include a fridge with cold drinks, snorkel equipment, beach floats, and bike rentals.

Cabanas are usually snapped up by concierge guests and Platinum and Pearl cruisers , who get first dibs on the booking windows for cabanas, shore excursions, and all the things. However, if you want one, be persistent, and maybe you’ll get lucky. Concierge and Platinum and Pearl cruisers often book cabanas early because they can cancel them later. Keep refreshing the app; maybe one will be available when someone cancels. You never know.

Disney Characters on Castaway Cay

Castaway Cay offers many opportunities to meet and take pictures with your favorite Disney characters. See Mickey and his friends in their beach gear at dedicated photo spots between where the Disney Cruise ship docks and the family beach. The meet and greet times will be in the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app.

The Disney characters on Castaway Cay drive around in colorful Jeeps – even if you don’t get a picture with them, you can sometimes snap photos of them whizzing around the island and waving merrily at the beachgoers.

Lighthouse Point

DCL is opening a second private island. Lighthouse Point, located near Eleuthera, is opening in 2024. The Lighthouse Point cruises are scheduled to go out of Fort Lauderdale. Some of these cruises stop at Castaway Cay.

Some cruises have two stops at Castaway Cay, known in Disney cruising circles as a “double dip.” So far, a cruise that stops at Castaway Cay and Lighthouse Point is unnamed, although “double island paradise” sounds pretty good.

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18 Disney Cruise Tips | Things To Do On Your Bahamas Adventure

Preparing for a Disney Cruise and looking for the top secrets to help you have a memorable time? Well, you’re in the right place to discover the best Disney Cruise line tips.  

A Disney Cruise is the ultimate way to have a fun-packed family vacation. With everything from world-class entertainment to fun rides and free treats and services, you’ll never have a moment of boredom. 

Disclosure:  This trip was a paid collaboration with Disney Cruise ,  however, all views and opinions are my own . This post contains affiliate links whereby I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps with the costs of running my website so I can keep my content free for you. Thanks as always for your support! See my disclosure policy  here.

But, if it’s your first time on a Disney Cruise, you might not know about all the great activities on offer. Not to worry, though. This guide covers all the Disney Cruise insider secrets so that you can enjoy your trip to the fullest. 

Tip: Double up on the magical fun by stopping at Disney’s Magic Kingdom in Florida before your cruise. 

How to Get There | Disney Cruise Dream Tips

Our 4-day Disney Dream Cruise departed to the Bahamas from Port Miami. To get there, we flew from London Heathrow to Miami, where we had an overnight stay to recharge before our cruise. 

Miami International Airport is the most important in sunny Florida and receives direct flights from many European countries. If you’re based in the United States, there are plenty of flights that only cost around $100, depending on where you’re flying from.

Top Disney Cruise Tips

Ready to dive into the Disney fun? Below are the top Disney Bahamas cruise tips and secrets. This guide covers the best things to do on a Disney Cruise, as well as the things you shouldn’t do.  

10 Best Things to Do on a Disney Cruise

Below are some of the top things you absolutely must try on your Disney Cruise. 

Get in the Disney Spirit at the Sailing Away Party

Kick off your cruise in the right spirit at the Disney Sailing Away Party. Here, you’ll count down to the ship horn’s mighty roar and meet some of your favourite characters. These include Captain Mickey Mouse, Daisy Duck, and Goofy. 

Order a Room Service Breakfast — It’s Free!

Start your day off with a quiet morning in your stateroom, enjoying your favourite Disney cartoons and some breakfast. The best part is that the room service is free all day, every day. 

Savour the Famous Breakfast Mickey Waffles at Cabanas

Head to the largest restaurant on the ship, Cabanas, for a mouth-watering buffet to fuel you for the day. This buffet room has tons of options on offer. But the famous breakfast Mickey Waffles will truly brighten your day. 

Slide Down the Aquaduck Water Coaster 

If there’s one place where you can safely release your inner child, it’s on a Disney cruise ship. And the Aquaduck is the perfect opportunity to feel free. The Aquaduck, exclusive to Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy cruise lines, is a clear 765-foot water coaster that drops four decks. 

Two-person rafts are available, so you can enjoy the slide with the kids. Or head down the scenic slide on your own. Lines tend to be shorter when the ship docks. But you can also queue early if you want to avoid long lines. 

Have Champagne Cocktails at the Pink Bar 

Head to the Pink wine and champagne bar in The District, an adults-only area on board. This bar is designed to resemble the inside of a Champagne bottle. You’ll have a sparkling time with everything from mixed drinks to irresistible Champagne cocktails. 

Explore the Epic Kids Clubs on Board

Disney cruise ships have various age-specific kids clubs, so the little ones can easily make friends and stay occupied. There’s the “It’s a small world” nursery for kiddos under three years old. Other kid’s clubs include the Edge, Vibe, and Disney’s Oceaneer Club.

Each has its own theme and decor — one even has a millennial falcon. It’s a great place to drop the kids off while you head to one of the bars for some cocktails. 

Dress Like a Pirate for Pirate Night

What better place to dress up like a pirate than on a cruise to the Bahamas? Disney hosts the exciting Pirate Night, packed with trivia games, live performances, and pirate-themed meals. Dress up in your coolest pirate garb and join hundreds of other fans for an unforgettable experience highlighted by fireworks!

Enjoy Sunset Cocktails at the Adults Only Currents Bar

The open-air Currents bar set on Deck 13 is perfect for kicking back with your favourite cocktail. Enjoy the sunset views, good vibes, and ocean breeze with a moment away from the kids.

Try Disney’s Rotational Dining Experience

Enjoy all three themed restaurants on the Disney Dream ship by joining a rotational dining experience. Sign up on the navigator app, and you’ll be assigned a schedule and table number for every restaurant.

You’ll spend every night at a different restaurant, but you’ll have the same waiter throughout, ensuring a more personalised experience. 

Attend a Free Evening Theatre Show 

Enjoy the glitzy, Broadway-quality productions on offer at Disney’s 1,340-seat on-ship theatre. The elegant space has old-school red chairs and hosts two live performances a night. 

Take advantage of these complimentary performances, as you’d usually pay tons to see them on land. We watched Beauty and the Beast , which was an absolutely memorable experience.

What Not to Do on a Disney Cruise  – 8 Bonus Tips

One of the most important tips for your Disney Dream Cruise is not to while your days away in the staterooms. While the beds may be comfy, it would be a shame to miss out on all the fun cruise activities. 

Below are a few other things not to do on a Disney Cruise. 

Don’t Worry About Missing Your Daily Routine 

Forget your daily routine and embrace spontaneity to get the most out of your Disney trip. However, if you’d like to keep up with your fitness goals, there’s a fitness centre with top-of-the-line weight and cardio equipment. The centre also offers complimentary fitness classes — with an unbeatable view. 

You can also stay active by frequenting Goofy’s Sports Deck. This open-air area has a basketball court, a mini golf course, and virtual sports simulators. And don’t forget to take frequent splashes in the three freshwater pools on deck. 

Don’t Just Stick to the Free Coffee

While free services and treats are excellent, some things are worth splurging on. Be on the lookout for cafés that serve coffee with Disney-themed froth art on top. These make for great photos and will help you start your day in the Disney mood. 

Don’t Forget to Check the Daily Disney Cruise Activities

It’s no secret that Disney knows a thing or two about providing top-tier family entertainment. And it’s no different on the Disney Dream Cruise line. Have a look at the daily scheduled activities on your navigator app while planning your day. 

You’ll spot unmissable activities like Disney Trivia, Sarge Says!, Champagne Tastings, Karaoke, and so much more. The Silent Disco is an absolute winner. 

Don’t Suffer in the Heat 

A cruise in the Bahamas comes with its fair share of heat. Luckily, the Disney cruise ship has plenty of quick-service stations where you can grab a refreshing treat whenever you need it. Stop at Eye Scream and Frozone Treats for unlimited soft-serve ice cream or an ice-cold drink. 

Don’t Think You Have to Join the Queues to Meet Your Favourite Disney Characters

There are tons of opportunities to meet Disney characters on board. But you may have to wait in line to snap a photo. If you’d like to avoid the queues, keep your eyes peeled for characters wandering around the ship. You may just bump into Mickey on your way to breakfast. 

Don’t Bring Cash or Credit Cards to Castaway Cay

You don’t want to lose your personal cards or cash on an island in the Bahamas — and you don’t have to. You can pay for everything on Disney’s private island with your stateroom card. 

Don’t forget that cold drinks and soft serve are unlimited here, too. And you’ll also receive complimentary meals. So you won’t have to spend much, if anything, on snacks. 

Don’t Forget the Free Childcare on the Island

You don’t have to miss out on adults-only fun on the island. Drop your kids at the island’s Scuttle’s Cove for supervised fun in the sea and sun. This area is similar to the on-board kids’ clubs and welcomes children between the ages of three and 12.

Your little ones will be in safe hands while you relax at adult-only spaces like Serenity Bay. 

Don’t Sleep Through the Fireworks

You may have to stay up past your bedtime, but the fireworks are the highlight of Pirate Night. This event only takes place once during the entire cruise and is a unique experience at sea. So be sure to check your navigator app and show up early to grab a good seat. 

Concluding Disney Cruise Tips and Tricks

Now that you’ve got the low down on the top Disney Cruise secrets, you’re sure to have a great and goofy time. Don’t be afraid to let your inner child out, and enjoy all the fantastic experiences to the fullest. 

If you’re looking for more fun experiences around the Caribbean, be sure to have a look at this Grenada travel guide . You’ll also love a stop at Palm Beach, Florida if you’re eager for more fun in the Sunshine State. 

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Four Day Disney Cruise

The Four Day Disney Cruise is the perfect way to top off a magical family vacation. The Disney Dream, leaves Port Canaveral every Wednesday morning on a magical journey through the Caribbean. (Yes, the Bahamas are part of the Caribbean.)A Disney Cruise is perfect for all kinds of families. Yes, kids love Disney Cruises, but to be honest, a whole lot of adults love Disney Cruises too. The Disney Cruise Line is consistently rated as the top moderately priced cruise line in the business.

The Disney Dream

The Disney Dream started sailing in January of 2011. It replaced the Wonder on the 3 and 4 night itineraries. The Dream will have some new features, that are opening eyes all around the cruise industry. All of the inside staterooms will have a “virtual” port making them “virtual” outside cabins (Disney will probably charge more for these).

The Dream will be significantly larger than the Wonder. It will accommodate over 4,000 guests and have over 1,400 crew members. The Dream will have a 9 hole mini-golf course and “The Auqaduck” (the first water coaster at sea).

Day 1 – Departure Day

Wednesday is sail away day on the four day Disney Cruise. This is a day to check out the magical cruise ship that will be your home for the next couple of days. Start out at the … Join the Adventures Away! Sail Away Party . Every cruise ship has a sail away party, this one’s just a little different. It’s a child friendly party led by Captain Mickey Mouse and some of his friends. The party starts about 15 minutes after the ship departs Port Canaveral, Florida.

Departure is at 4:00 pm and begins with a blast from the horn. (The horn plays “When you wish upon a star.) During the party, TV cameras circulate through the crowds and project video of revelers on the big screen (it’s all G-rated fun.) Streamers and confetti are everywhere. A dance floor covers the Goofy pool and a the music blares and a great time is had by all. (Wow, has Dad been watching too many Disney commercials or what?)

The rest of the evening is filled with exploration, good food, a great show and fun at every turn. Make sure you take time to look around. The ships are really beautiful and full of surprises.

Day 2 – Nassau, Bahamas

Wake up on Day 2 of in Nassau . Nassau is the capital of the island nation called the Bahamas. Nassau is just about 180 miles from Miami Florida. During your day in Nassau, you can do all kinds of islandy things.

Nassau is home of the Atlantis Resort, one of the most unique tourist destinations in all of the Caribbean. Atlantis is home to one of the world’s largest open-air marine habitats (aquarium). Over 50,000 creatures live in this area. Disney offers a 3 hour guided tour that will leave you wanting more.

In Nassau proper, you can take tours of old forts that are located around the island. For years the Bahamas served as a base for pirates (of the Caribbean). The Bahamas was a British colony, and the British government built forts to protect the populace from the menacing horde. Oh, how the times have changed. (Now the government invites the menacing horde and charges them an arm and a leg.)

After a full day in Nassau, jump back on the boat for an evening of great shows and great food.

Day 3 and 4 – Castaway Cay and at Sea

The next stop on your four day Disney Cruise is Disney’s Castaway Cay. You don’t want to miss this. One of the first things Disney looked for for the Disney Cruise Line was a private island where guests could spend time relaxing before returning to real life. They found a little island that was just perfect and Castaway Cay was born.

Castaway Cay is the perfect way to relax from the cares of the world. It has miles of those picture book white sand beaches surrounded by deep blue water. The water in the Bahamas is perfect for snorkeling and Castaway Cay is snorkeling paradise. Disney has even added some real nice touches for snorkelers. They’ve taken 2 of the old submarines from the old 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea ride and sunk them just for those who want to snorkel.

Disney has also added typical Disney touches all around the island. You’ll see remnants from airplane crashes and the buildings look like they’ve been there forever, but it’s all just Disney magic.

Like most things they do, Disney has thought of pretty much everything for your Four Day Disney Cruise. There is an area for adults only. It’s a quiet lagoon complete with open-air massages. You can find something for everyone somewhere on this 1,000 acre island paradise.

You also get to spend a full day at sea. This is a great time to really explore the Dream. Take in a first run Disney movie at the majestic theater, or spend the day at the pool sunning yourselves, or enjoy a fine adult-only meal at Palo, the choices are almost endless.

Day 4 + Back to Reality

When you wake up on go home day, Day 4 + of your Four Day Disney Cruise (yep, a bonus day, sorta), you will probably be arriving back at Port Canaveral. Get up early and grab one last breakfast before getting off the ship and starting the trip either home or to enjoy more of the magic back in Mickeyland.

Your suitcases will already be packed up and on their way to whatever your next destination might be. Disembarkation includes a quick (or sometimes not so quick) trip through customs then a bus trip back to reality.

Get Started

Are you ready? I sure am. If you’d like some assistance booking your next cruise, I can’t think of a better place to get help than from my friends at Destinations to Travel. They know the Disney Cruise Line back and forth. Drop them a line today .

Dad’s Bottom Line

The Four Day Disney Cruise is a perfect beginning or ending to a great family vacation full of magic and memories.

“Here you leave today and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow, and fantasy.” – Walt Disney

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Personal Navigators: 4-Night Bahamian Cruise on Disney Dream from Port Canaveral – February 21, 2022

Personal Navigators, and other handouts from the   4-Night Bahamian Cruise on Disney Dream from Port Canaveral . The  Disney Dream  set sail from  Port Canaveral, Florida  on February 21, 2022. There are  additional  Personal Navigators from other sailings of this same itinerary for comparison. During this cruise, the ship was under the control of Captain Thord Haugen. The Cruise Director during the sailing was Carly Scott. 

Day 1 – February 21, 2022 –  Port Canaveral, Florida

Guests Onboard : 3:45 pm Attire : Cruise Casual Drink of the Day : Unknown •  Non-Alcoholic : Unknown Dinner Menus :

• Royal Palace :  Royal Palace
• Animator’s Palate :  Animators Palate
• Enchanted Garden :  Enchanted Garden

Evening Entertainment : 

• Walt Disney Theatre Production –  Disney’s Believe

Day 2 – February 22, 2022 – At Sea

Attire : Cruise Casual Drink of the Day : Unknown •  Non-Alcoholic : Unknown Dinner Menus :

• Walt Disney Theatre Production –  Beauty and the Beast

Day 3 – February 23, 2022 –  Nassau, Bahamas

Guests Ashore : 8:30 am  Guests Onboard : 4:45 pm Attire : Pirate or Cruise Casual Drink of the Day : Unknown •  Non-Alcoholic : Unknown Dinner Menus :

• Royal Palace :  Pirates
• Animator’s Palate :  Pirates
• Enchanted Garden :  Pirates

Day 4 – February 24, 2022 –  Castaway Cay

Guests Ashore : 8:30 am  Guests Onboard : 4:45 pm Attire : Cruise Casual Drink of the Day : Unknown •  Non-Alcoholic : Unknown Dinner Menus :

Buena Vista Theatre Movies

• Black Panther
• West Side Story

Thank you  Alex K  for sharing. If you have any navigators you would be willing to share, please send me an email. If you would rather upload the files you can use our  upload form .

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Home » Cruise » Disney Cruise Line » Disney Wish » Disney Wish 3-Day Bahamas Cruise Review

Disney Wish 3-Day Bahamas Cruise Review

In our signature day-by-day Disney Wish Bahamas cruise review, we detail our 3 days onboard this new Disney Cruise Line ship.

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Ship overview.

Disney Wish is Disney Cruise Line’s 5th ship. This 144K gross ton vessel is DCL’s first new ship in over a decade and now the largest ship in the fleet. Carrying up to 4,000 passengers, this brand new vessel features a number of new dining concepts, onboard amenities, and one-of-a-kind features that kids and adults alike will enjoy.

While the rotational dining concept remains on Disney Wish, the cruise line has reimagined the three dining venues. Each new restaurant has its own story to tell.

Named for the year The Walt Disney Company was founded, 1923 celebrates the golden age of animation. World of Marvel is the first Marvel cinematic dining adventure, where guests play an interactive role in an Avengers mission with the use of digital screens and special effects. Finally, there’s Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure. This dining room brings the Frozen characters to life to celebrate the engagement of Queen Anna and Kristoff with plenty of music and fun.

Disney Wish also features new specialty restaurants and casual dining spots. Palo Steakhouse and Enchante are the upscale, adult-only restaurants that do come at an up-charge. The Mickey and Friends Festival of Foods is a new pool deck favorite. This open-air eatery features five themed food stalls including the new Mickey’s Smokestack Barbecue and Donald’s Cantina. Disney Wish is the first in the DCL fleet to offer dedicated quick-service venues for barbeque and Mexican-inspired fare.

In terms of entertainment, there’s plenty for everyone to love. There are three Disney-themed production shows in the Walt Disney Theater along with many other activities occurring at the various lounges around the ship. From character meet & greets, to live music, to parties and games- like the Pirates Rockin’ Parlay Party on the pool deck or the Incredi-Games in the Hero Zone, it will be tough to fit it all in on these short cruises.

When it comes to the pool deck, families have more pools and more deck space than ever before. The ship features six family pools staggered among tiered decks and surrounded by lounge chairs. There’s also the new Toy Story Splash Zone for the little ones and the first of its kind water attraction at sea, the AquaMouse. As guests wind their way through the tubing suspended high above the pool deck, they will be immersed in The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse animated shorts, complete with show scenes, lighting, and special effects.  

The children’s areas on Disney Wish are spectacular too. The Disney’s Oceaneer Club features a number of well-themed play areas. These include the Fairytale Hall, Marvel Superhero Academy, Star Wars Cargo Bay, Walt Disney Imagineering Lab, and Mickey and Minnie’s Captain Deck. Here, your kids will have endless opportunities for fun. They can engage in storytelling, arts and crafts, dress-up, toys and games, watching Disney movies, and so much more.

As we mentioned before, adults will love Disney Wish too . Of course, there is the adult-only Quiet Cove. This area features an 18+ sundeck, a whirlpool, an infinity pool, a bar, and a cafe. There’s also the newly located Senses Spa. The Senses Spa features your typical beauty treatments as well as tranquil relaxation areas with plush loungers and swings, including the new outdoor space at the bow of the ship. You can also rejuvenate in the Rainforest room thermal suite. This area features a sauna, steam room, cold room, heated loungers, and more.

Of course, there’s plenty of adult-themed fun on the bar front as well. Perhaps, the most anticipated is the Star Wars: Hyperspace Lounge with galactically inspired drinks and scenery. There’s also the Princess and the Frog themed bar, The Bayou, with a variety of cocktails and even beignets. If that’s not enough, there’s Nightingale’s piano bar, Keg & Compass pub, and many other bars throughout the ship.

Finally, all guests sailing on Disney Wish are sure to be enchanted by the Grand Hall. The 3-story Grand Hall is truly your castle at sea. With a grand staircase, the starry chandelier, and a life-sized Cinderella statue, the décor is opulent. This area even evolves throughout the day from a gathering space to a theater through the use of special effects, culminating the evening with a special Kiss Goodnight light show.

Now, we have just returned from a sailing on this brand new ship and want to share all the Disney magic with you in our exclusive Disney Wish 3-day Bahamas cruise review.

EXCLUSIVE SAVINGS: Get Deals on Disney Wish Cruises!

Disney Wish Bahamas Cruise Review – Day 1

Against our own advice.

Due to a family obligation, we flew into Orlando on the morning of this Disney Wish Bahamas cruise review. Against our own advice, we were up at the crack of dawn to drive to the airport. Thankfully, there were no flight delays, so we arrived at the MCO airport by 8 AM.

Prior to the cruise, we completed our online check-in in the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app. This included choosing a port arrival time. The earliest time slot available was 12:15 PM.

Since this was our first Disney cruise, and we had read that DCL is strict with these arrival times, we inquired about a cruise line transfer from the airport. We learned that the first shuttle was scheduled to depart for the cruise terminal around 9 AM for a cost of just $39 per person. Thus, we hopped on this opportunity in hopes of boarding the ship a bit earlier.

Taking the approximately hour bus ride to the Disney Cruise Line terminal in Port Canaveral, we arrived around 10 AM. Here, we waited outside for an additional 15 minutes or so before being allowed to enter the terminal.

We were through security and the check-in process quickly. We then proceeded to wait in the terminal for over an hour before any guests were allowed onto the ship. Our boarding group 2 was called at 11:50 AM.

Now, we were finally ready to get our first look at the brand new Disney Wish.

Our First Look at Disney Wish

Like usual, we started our Disney Wish ship tour all the way at the top on deck 14. For the next 2.5 hours, we tried to cover as much ground as possible before the areas became too congested with other passengers.

From the several pools and outdoor spaces, to the kids club, and the spa, we couldn’t help but love all the public spaces we had seen so far.

Around 2:30 PM, we decided it was time to take a break for some lunch. Heading to the Mickey and Friends Festival of Foods on deck 11, we opted to try some of the new offerings on Disney Wish. This outdoor food hall is the first to offer BBQ and Mexican quick-service dishes.

We both ended up sampling some tacos from Donald’s Cantina. Our selections were warm and filling. For those that have cruised on Royal Caribbean, we would say the food was a step above the similar El Loco Fresh.

Now that we were nourished, it was time for some mandatory items on our check list, like Muster Drill. This safety briefing is even easier on DCL than some other cruise lines.

First, we needed to visit our muster station, which was the Marvel dining room, where we simply scanned a QR code to check-in. Once checked in, all we had to do was watch a safety video on the app and listen to the Captain’s announcement and sounding of the emergency alarms prior to sail away.

After 3 PM at this point, we finally made our way to deck 8 to check out our stateroom. For this Disney Wish Bahamas Cruise Review, we booked a guarantee deluxe oceanview stateroom with verandah. A couple weeks out from our sailing, we were assigned cabin 8194.

This balcony cabin was located all the way aft on the ship and was actually an accessible cabin with plenty of space. We took a few moments here to collect photos and video of this stateroom and drop off our carry on bags.

Our First Evening Onboard Disney Wish

Wanting to make the most of our short amount of time on the ship, we headed back out to continue exploring, but first coffee. Caffeine was going to be essential to get through this long day!

After checking out more of the indoor bars and lounges, we jaunted back up to the pool deck prior to 4:30 PM for the sail away party.

In typical Disney fashion, this sail away party consisted of a magical celebration with appearances by the Fairy Godmother, Captain Minnie and Mickey, and many of your other favorite characters.

With lots of singing, dancing, and the signature Disney ship horn sounding, it was time to set off on our adventure.

Staying as long as we could, we headed back to the room slightly after 5 PM. With a 5:45 PM dining time, we needed to freshen up and make a costume change before dinner.

Disney Wish continues the Disney rotational dining concept. For those unfamiliar with this concept, guests rotate between three dining venues during the cruise. The waitstaff also rotate, so you can keep the same table number and wait team each evening.

However, Disney Wish does offer three brand new restaurant concepts, each with a unique menu and story to tell. Tonight, we were assigned to 1923. This restaurant pays tribute to the golden age of Hollywood with props, sketches, and other retro decor.

Dinner and Drinks on Disney Wish

Upon checking in at the restaurant, we were escorted to a table for six on the Roy Disney (starboard) side of the venue. Yes, Disney Cruise Line is seating guests with other parties! While we typically prefer a table to ourselves, we did not make a big deal over it as it was only for three days.

Here, we met our waitstaff of Marvin and Jhoni. This team was personable and timely with taking orders and explaining the menus. However, we did have an issue where we were charged for the entire table’s drinks. After visiting Guest Services three times, the issue never got resolved!

To start, we ordered a couple cocktails. I went with a cosmo, while the hubby ordered the signature Riverside Old Fashioned. How can you go wrong with a drink that is topped with bacon?

For appetizers, we sampled three dishes off the menu. The pear and tatsoi salad, burrata and prosciutto, and spiced ahi tuna. All three dishes were pretty average when compared to other cruise lines’ main dining room selections.

In terms of entrees, I opted for the Riverside Roasted Chicken. The chicken dish was a generous portion and was more on par with a dish from a specialty steakhouse on other cruise lines. Don ordered the Peppered Filet Mignon. This entrée was cooked to the perfect medium rare temperature and had just the right amount of seasoning.

His Apple Cheesecake dessert was also a hit. Overall, the trend was that the desserts on DCL shined over other cruise lines.

Following our approximately two hour dinner, we made a dash to the Mickey’s Main Sail shop to purchase some mandatory Disney Wish inaugural merchandise. Apparently, we weren’t the only ones as the store was packed.

Scoring a spirit jersey, inaugural t-shirt, and obligatory ship ornament, Don waited in the check out line while I headed to the theater to secure seats for tonight’s show.

The 8:30 PM show was busy, so we had to deter from our typical portside theater seats. Disney Seas the Adventure is an approximately 40 minute revue show featuring Captain Minnie, Goofy, and some of your other favorite Disney characters. This felt like a show you would see in a Disney theme park. While fun, it certainly wasn’t a Broadway quality performance.

After the show in the Walt Disney Theater, we made our way to the Bayou. This Princess and the Frog themed bar on deck 3 has dazzling décor and a specialty cocktail menu. The venue exudes a New Orleans vibe, right down to the drink menu with cocktails like a hurricane. While enjoying the atmosphere and cocktails, we listened to a set by the Wishers. This 3-piece band played a variety of Disney classics.

Wanting to see and do as much as we could during our three days onboard the ship, we moved on to the next venue around 10:15 PM.

Luna’s is a small two-story theater that hosts adult-only entertainment in the evenings. Tonight’s activity was DCL’s version of the Love and Marriage game show, Match Your Mate. This game show is always fun to watch.

Going strong since 2:30 AM, we had to call it a night when this show ended just after 11 PM.

Tomorrow was our first port of call in Nassau, Bahamas.

Disney Wish Bahamas Cruise Review – Day 2

Staying on the ship today.

Day 2 of this Disney Wish Bahamas Cruise Review was a scheduled port stop in Nassau, Bahamas. Like most of our cruises, we decided to stay on the ship today. There is a lot to see and do on the new Disney Wish, and we wanted to make the most of it.

Up at 6:30 AM, hubby made the usual morning run for photos and videos, returning to the cabin with some lattes.

The ship was cleared around 9 AM; although, it felt like very few passengers got off the ship. This meant that the outdoor decks were still very busy. In fact, the AquaMouse line was over an hour long by mid-morning.

Our first order of business for the day was to test out the Marceline Market for breakfast. This buffet on Disney Wish offers a variety of selections, as well as both indoor and outdoor seating. At the very back of the venue is an omelet station. Of course, I had to put Disney Wish to the omelet test. And, I have to say that it was better than most cruise lines. The hubby sampled some eggs, quiche, and sausage which he thought were good also.

A Busy Morning Onboard Disney Wish

After breakfast, we spent the next few hours walking around the ship, continuing to capture photos and videos. The weather was hot and sunny, so there were plenty of cruisers enjoying the pools and outdoor amenities. The nice thing about Disney Wish is that there are a number of pools and lounge spaces dispersed throughout the outdoor decks.

The Chip and Dale pool on deck 14 forward is a quieter space away from the other six main pools on decks 11 and 12. Not to mention, there is the Toy Story Splash Zone on deck 12 forward for the little ones and the adult-only Quiet Cove on deck 13.

Around noon time, we made our first drink stop of the day at Wheezy’s Freezies. Located near the kids splash zone, this venue serves up sno-cones and dole whip treats. Of course, we opted for an adult version of dole whip with some rum.

Relaxing in the shade for a bit, it was time to test out more of the stations at the Festival of Foods for lunch. Don grabbed some barbecue from Mickey’s Smokestack, while I grabbed chicken tenders and fries from Goofy’s Grill. We also sampled a slice of pizza from Daisy’s Pizza Pies.

The food items here were all served warm and freshly prepared. We really liked this casual food spot, and it was a clear winner over the buffet. Everything we sampled was good and better than many casual spots on other cruise lines when comparing the BBQ, grill, and cantina; however, Princess and Virgin definitely have better pizza.

Having enough of the heat, we made our way back inside to grab some afternoon lattes before retreating to our cabin. We spent the next couple hours working and enjoying the air conditioning until dinner time.

Worlds of Marvel for Dinner

Night 2 of this Disney Wish Bahamas Cruise Review took us to the Worlds of Marvel for dinner. This dining rotation is assigned to guests based on their staterooms.

Arriving on time, we were escorted to table 411 once again, with our same tablemates and waitstaff. With Avengers theming, digital screens, and even a Quantum Core on every table, we were ready for tonight’s adventure.

To begin the evening, we each ordered a drink from the specialty menu. I ordered the Stinger, and Don ordered the Widow’s Bite. Both drinks were well-balanced.

For appetizers, I started with the potato soup and iceberg wedge salad. The hubby ordered the bao bun and fried shrimp. Of the four selections, only the jumbo fried shrimp was a standout dish.

The entrees too were just average. Don ordered the ribeye steak, and I did the chicken schnitzel. Neither dish was very flavorful. However, once again, the desserts were great. We sampled the PYM doughnut sundae, key lime pie, and cheesecake byte and enjoyed all three of them.

Without giving too much of the experience away, there is a story that unfolds with Ant Man and The Wasp during dinner. The characters may even make a special appearance to thank you for helping to save the day.

While I am not a Marvel fan, even the hubby was not a fan of the interactive show as he thought it did nothing to enhance the dining experience. Personally, this was our least favorite of the three dining venues.

Let’s Make the Jump to Hyperspace

Out of dinner in about two hours again this evening, we continued our “drink around the ship”. Given the Aladdin production in the main theater was not ready for our sailing, there was no show tonight.

First up on this tour was the Star Wars: Hyperspace Lounge. This Lounge is popular (and small), so it requires reservations. During our sailing, we made a reservation in the Triton Lounge upon boarding the ship for this evening at 8:30 PM. Of note, we have been reading that this experience is now available to book in the app once on the Disney WiFi.

A reservation allows guests to spend 45 minutes in this venue, which is plenty of time to enjoy the scenery and drinks. We sampled the Berken’s Flow and the Chancellor, which were good but on the pricey side.

Honestly, we were expecting a bit more from this venue. After seeing the elaborately themed Star Wars: Cargo Bay kids area, the Hyperspace Lounge didn’t measure up. Still, it is a fun and complimentary experience for adults to enjoy on Disney Wish (drinks will incur a charge).

Next up was Nightingale’s. This piano bar is located nearby on deck 3. Featuring a specialty menu of wines and champagne, this Cinderella-inspired bar has a modern design with a piano and large chandelier as the focal point. Unfortunately though, there was no live music when we visited this venue.

While there were plenty of nighttime activities and character meet and greets, it did feel like live music was a bit lacking.

Yo Ho, A Pirate’s Life For Me

Still, we enjoyed our drinks for the next 30 minutes or so before making our way outside for the Pirate’s Rockin’ Parlay Party at 10:15 PM. Playing some classic rock songs, the two lead singers and cast of dancers put on a good show. The short fireworks display at the end of the performance was a perfect way to close out the party.

This is a fun activity for all ages and should not be missed. If you want to step it up a notch, pack some pirate attire for the festivities.

After the party, we headed back inside to pop into one more bar, the Keg & Compass. This nautically-themed pub on deck 5 features a menu with a few craft brews available exclusively on Disney Wish. Unfortunately though, they were all sold out by the time we visited the venue. Still, it is a casual spot to relax with some friends.

The Keg & Compass also offers an a la carte food menu. During our visit, we did not see anyone order any of these food items.

Approaching midnight, we exited to the Grand Hall to watch the chandelier show. Given it was pirates night, the short light show featured a musical excerpt of Pirate’s Life from Peter Pan.

Exhausted from two long days, we needed to get some rest. Tomorrow was already our final day of this Disney Wish Bahamas Cruise Review.

Disney Wish Bahamas Cruise Review – Day 3

A visit to castaway cay.

Day 3 of this Disney Wish Bahamas Cruise Review was our second port stop of this short cruise. Today, we were visiting Disney Cruise Line’s private island in the Bahamas. This was our first time at Castaway Cay. Still, with so much to see and do around the ship, we decided to go ashore for only a couple hours in the morning.

We figured that we could get our remaining photos and videos of the ship minus some of the crowds in the afternoon. After all, we will be returning in October. So, we will have more time to relax and enjoy Castaway Cay then.

Up by 7 AM, we did a bit of work in the morning before heading ashore around 9 AM. We spent about 2.5 hours exploring all the island has to offer. Not realizing how far of a walk it was, we made the trek out to Serenity Bay, the adults only area of the island. Needless to say, we took the shuttle back though.

For those who are not familiar with Castaway Cay, this private retreat in the Bahamas is available only to DCL guests.

The resort has plenty of sandy beachfront, a stingray adventure, a snorkeling lagoon, a small children’s waterpark, bike rentals, beach sports, games, and more. There is also Scuttle’s Cove, the kid’s programming on the island.

Not to mention, there are cabanas available to rent, plenty of bars to quench your thirst, shops, and two BBQ lunch spots. The island lunch is complimentary and includes grill items like hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, and ribs, along with sides and desserts.

While the food looked tempting, we wanted to fully test out the options on the ship. Thus, we made our way back onboard around noon time.

Checking Out the AquaMouse

After dropping off some gear and getting our air conditioning fix in the cabin, we decided to test out the offerings at Marceline Market for lunch. In general, we are not big fans of buffets, and that held true for this lunch buffet on Disney Wish.

While there was a seafood section in the back, the rest of the stations included many heavier options that we don’t typically eat at lunchtime. Further, there were no real options to customize salads or sandwiches as much of the selections were pre-made. Even the chicken tenders at the kid’s section of the buffet were not as fresh as those at the outdoor Festival of Foods.

Feeling a bit overheated from the island, I decided to go back to the cabin to rest up while the hubby took on the AquaMouse. The quoted wait time was 30 minutes; though, he ended up waiting close to an hour as the ride broke down for a 15-minute period.

The AquaMouse is another signature feature that did not live up to our expectations. More than half of the ride was the conveyor belt lift to the top, and even the rest of the experience was not all that exciting. In our opinion, some of the waterslides on other contemporary cruise lines surpass the AquaMouse on the fun scale.

For the First Time in Forever

Back in the stateroom, we did some work for a couple hours before getting ready for our final dinner of the cruise. Tonight, we were experiencing Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure.

While the food in 1923 was better, we would say this was the best overall dining experience.

Of course, we started our dining adventure with some cocktails. I went with the Frozen Fractals, and Don went with the Ice Harvester. While some tablemates thought the drinks were too sweet, we enjoyed them.

For starters, we sampled the ham and cheese tart, koldtbord (seafood board), and fields of greens salad between the two of us. The ham and cheese tart was the winner in this category. Many other cruisers raved about the baked scallops, but Don is allergic so wasn’t able to try it.

Our entrees consisted of the juniper spiced chicken and the Arendelle kjottkake (Norwegian meatballs and gravy). Both of these dishes were pretty average main dining room selections.

Finally, our dessert selections were the apple cake, Norwegian pancake roulade, and Elsa’s Coronation sundae. The apple cake was the best, as the Norwegian pancake had a very odd presentation.

The premise of the show is that guests are attending an engagement party for Anna and Kristoff. Thus, there’ll be music, there’ll be fun. There is even a special appearance by Olaf! We would liken this to a character dining experience in the Disney parks, with the characters walking around to the tables for photos during dinner.

In comparison to the Marvel show, this one felt more appropriately paired with dinner to provide a bit of fun without being overly distracting.

Our Final Night on Disney Wish

Following dinner, it was on to the final show of the cruise in the main theater. The Little Mermaid is a 60-minute, Broadway-style adaptation of the original film. The singing, dancing, and stage set made for a great performance, even if we thought the ending deviated a bit too much from the original film.

This is definitely a show that you won’t want to miss when cruising on Disney Wish.

After the show, we ascended up to the Rose to complete our drink around the ship. This elegant bar is situated on deck 12 near the two specialty restaurants. The venue also features a signature cocktail menu. I tried Plant & Fleurs while hubby ordered Mrs. Tea on the recommendation of the waitress. Overall, the drinks on Disney Wish were always well-balanced and expertly prepared.

It’s too bad Disney Cruise Line does not offer a drink package though, as the costs can add up pretty quickly.

While we had made another reservation for the Hyperspace Lounge at 11 PM tonight, we decided to close out the evening at our favorite bar on the ship instead, The Bayou.

Here, we enjoyed two espresso martinis while listening to the pianist, Alex, perform an 80’s set. While I enjoyed all the Disney theming throughout the cruise, Don was glad to hear something other than Disney music tonight.

When the set ended at 11:30 PM, we finished up our drinks and headed to the Grand Hall to watch the Kiss Goodnight lightshow at midnight. This was a magical way to end our Disney Wish Bahamas Cruise Review.

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Disney Wish Bahamas Cruise Review – Disembarkation

Sea ya real soon.

Alas, our Disney Wish 3-Day Bahamas Cruise Review was already over. However, that didn’t mean our Disney fun was ending just yet. Today, we would be disembarking the ship and heading back to Orlando. We would be spending the next few days at the theme parks.

We were able to score a great deal on the Animal Kingdom Lodge hotel, one on my bucket list for a while. So, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity.

Up at 5:45 AM, we got showered and ready then finished up our packing.

After pricing out Ubers, we decided to book a transfer through the cruise line to our Disney hotel as it was going to be the cheaper option. We were told that we needed to disembark the ship by 7:45 AM. So, we skipped breakfast and completed self-assist disembarkation.

Exiting our stateroom, we were able to score an empty elevator down to the Grand Hall without any issues. It then took about 30 minutes to go from scanning off the ship, through CBP, and loaded onto a bus.

Actually, we were mislead when booking this transfer, as we were under the assumption that there would be multiple buses with the last one departing the cruise terminal at 9 AM. However, we proceeded to sit on the bus for the next hour along with some other unhappy guests.

Finally, we were en route at 9 AM. We arrived at the Animal Kingdom Lodge around 11 AM as we made stops at three other hotels first.

Being our first Disney cruise, we really enjoyed the Disney Wish and can’t wait to get back onboard to experience even more of what this new cruise ship has to offer. In fact, we have another trip already booked for October!

In the meantime, we have a couple busy and exciting months ahead. Stay tuned as we set sail on Oceania Marina, Norwegian Prima, and Valiant Lady this summer.

Did you enjoy our Disney Wish Bahamas Cruise Review? Do you have plans to sail on this brand new Disney Cruise Line ship? Drop us an anchor below to share your DCL cruise reviews!

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DB & The Princess

Welcome Aboard! We are Don and Heidi, the husband and wife travel team behind EatSleepCruise.com. We took our first cruise vacation together 13 years ago and have been hooked ever since. Follow along as we share our travel tips, cruise reviews, information on ports of call, and the latest cruise news to help you plan the ultimate cruise vacation. Are you ready to embark on your journey to “sea the world, one port at a time”?

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We have a 4 day Bahamas cruise on Disney Wish 16th September to 20th September. As we require to book transportation, from Kissimmee to Port Canaveral on 16th and Port Canaveral to Orlando Airport on 20th, we require approx boarding and embarkation times. ”

• When you complete the Online Check-In Process ahead of your cruise, you'll have the opportunity to select a Port Arrival Time that corresponds to when you'll be able to board . It's important to ensure that your transportation is not scheduled to arrive to much in advance as folks and families have been sometimes turned away for being too early; conversely, the All-Aboard time for guests is currently set for 3:45 P.M. and you definitely don't want to be left behind! I highly recommend waiting until you have a designated Port Arrival Time before confirming your transportation from Kissimmee, and allow yourself a buffer of at least half an hour in the event of the traffic that you might encounter along the way.
• On the day of your departure, guests have the option to debark sooner by taking advantage of the Express Walk Off option allowing you to take your own luggage off the ship early as soon as it is cleared by local authorities. (In my experience, this has often commenced with an onboard announcement between 7:00 - 8:00 A.M., but may always be subject to change.) The debarkation process overall is aimed to be as efficient as possible to have all guests off as soon as possible to prepare within a precious few hours for the next voyage, and I've observed that they really do try to ensure the ship has been cleared of any remaining guests by 9:15 A.M.
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4 Night Perfect Day & Bahamas Cruise

Your ship mariner of the seas.

GOODBYE SAME OLD, HELLO WAY BOLD

FlowRider ®

Laser Tag: Battle for Planet Z℠

Rock Climbing Wall

The Perfect Storm℠

Action-packed eats.

Izumi Hibachi & Sushi

Jamie's Italian by Jamie Oliver

Playmakers℠ Bar & Arcade

Chops Grille℠

Thrilling theatrics.

Gallery of Dreams

Ice Under the Big Top

Outdoor Movie Nights

English Pub

Day 1: orlando, florida.

Trekkie Track

Get In Character

Outside The lines

Local Cuisine

Day 2: Perfect Day at CocoCay, Bahamas

Popular shore excursions, amazing experiences coming soon..

Thrill Waterpark

Daredevil’s Tower

Splash Summit

Adventure Pool

Coco Beach Club

Overwater Cabanas

Beach Cabanas

The Restaurant

Hideaway Beach

Hideaway Pool and Swim-up Bar

On the Rocks

Slice of Paradise

Hideaway Cabanas

Island Dining

Captain Jack's®

Skipper's Grill

Chill Grill

SNACK SHACK

THRILLS & CHILLS

UP, UP AND AWAY

OASIS LAGOON

South Beach

CAPTAIN JILL’S GALLEON

SPLASHAWAY BAY

CHILL ISLAND

Day 3: nassau, bahamas.

LEGENDARY LOST CITY

Private Paradise

LOUNGE LIKE A LOCAL

Day 4: Cruising

Sports Court

Ice Skating

Day 5: orlando, florida.

A unique Disney experience: Here's what you can't miss on Disney Cruise Lines

D isney Cruise Line is synonymous with family vacations at sea, so you might think that every Disney cruise in 2024 will be a good choice for families. And having sailed on every one of Disney's cruise ships myself, I can say the simple answer is yes, that's absolutely true. But some Disney cruise experiences hold an extra special place in my family's heart, and they've made me realize that certain Disney cruises can go above and beyond even DCL's usual family-friendly standard. 

I'm thinking about when we met Disney’s "Frozen" friends in person on a Norway sailing or laughed to tears over dinner with Crush the Sea Turtle ("cha dude!"), or completed a 5K race with my daughter on Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay . That's why my picks for the best Disney cruises for families in 2024 are all about these kinds of extra special experiences, the ones that aren't just the usual level of Disney cruise line magic but will elevate your family vacation into once-in-a-lifetime "cherished family memory" territory.

Find a deal: Kids sail free: 6 cruise lines that let kids cruise for free  

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There will be no shortage of these kinds of opportunities on Disney Cruise Line (DCL) in 2024. From being among the first to visit Disney's brand-new private island destination to enjoying an immersive Pixar-themed day at sea to setting sail on the maiden voyage of Disney's newest ship , here are the Disney cruise experiences I think will go above and beyond in 2024. 

1. Disney Magic to Lighthouse Point, DCL's newest private island destination

One thing my family looks forward to during any Disney cruise is a stop at DCL's private island, Castaway Cay. In 2024, Disney Cruise Line will unveil its second private island destination, Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point , on the island of Eleuthera in the Bahamas. And I can’t wait to see how they plan to outdo the already incredible Castaway Cay experience. 

Family cruises: 7 best cruise lines for families (and their 12 most kid-friendly ships)

Similar to when Disney created its Aulani resort in Hawaii , Disney Imagineers have been working with local artists and cultural experts to design an authentic Bahamian island experience at Lighthouse Point. Curvilinear buildings are meant to evoke scattered seashells along the shore, and a Bahamian Art and Culture Pavilion will feature special programs and local artists that celebrate Bahama traditions. 

A special preview cruise to Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point on the Disney Magic departs from Fort Lauderdale in June 2024.  

2. Alaska and Australia cruises on the Disney Wonder in 2024

When my youngest daughter graduated from high school, my wife and I asked where she wanted to go for our family vacation to celebrate her milestone . Her top choice was Alaska. In the summer months, Disney Cruise Line positions one of its smaller ships, the Disney Wonder, out west so families can take weeklong sailings from Vancouver to the "Last Frontier." Along the way, you can experience majestic wildlife and stunning scenery while calling on Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, and glacier viewing along the Stikine Icecap. 

No hidden costs: 7 best all-inclusive cruise lines in the world  

But that's not all the Disney Wonder gets up to! In 2023, Disney also began offering Australia and New Zealand cruises onboard the ship, and that will continue in 2023 and 2024. Disney Cruise Line has announced a new season of sailings in the region from October 2024 through February 2025. 

The Disney Wonder is one of DCL's original class of ships, and with a capacity of 2,713 passengers, it remains one of the line's most intimate vessels. That's a reason to love it. Both the Wonder and its sister ship, Disney Magic, are especially great Disney cruise options in 2024 if your family is new to cruising . Far from being a drawback, the smaller size makes it less likely to feel overwhelming to first-timers.

3. European vacations on the Disney Dream

In 2023, Disney Cruise Line sent the Disney Dream across the Atlantic for the first time. The ship will head back to Europe in 2024 with summer cruises in the Mediterranean, Greek Isles, British Isles, Iceland, and Norwegian fjords. These are the best 2024 Disney Cruises for experiencing new ports of call like Valencia, Spain; Haugesund, Norway; and Hamburg, Germany, along with three Mediterranean destinations (Catania, Italy; Kusadasi, Turkey; and Valletta, Malta) that Disney will visit for the first time since 2014.

Make memories: Why a Holland America heritage cruise Is perfect for a multigenerational family vacation  

In June, the Disney Dream sails from Civitavecchia (Rome) with stops in Naples and three different Greek Islands, including Mykonos and Crete. In July, the ship transitions to northern European cruises, including a 12-night voyage departing from England (Southampton) on July 24, heading through the Norwegian fjords, three days in Iceland, and an overnight stay in Reykjavik before returning to Southampton. 

My family sailed on Disney’s inaugural Norwegian fjords cruise in 2015, and it was hands down our best family vacation because of the Disney-specific experiences no other cruise line can offer, such as Anna and Elsa from "Frozen" posing for pictures at a Norwegian Village museum in Ålesund.

4. Disney Cruise Line's private island trifecta on the Disney Fantasy

Many fans of Disney Cruise Line’s private island get particularly excited when itineraries include a Castaway Cay "double dip," i.e., two stops at Castaway Cay. But in 2024, the Disney Fantasy ventures on a seven-night itinerary that calls on Disney’s private islands not once, not twice, but three times with a stop at Castaway Cay and two visits to the brand-new Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. 

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I love Disney’s Castaway Cay and have enjoyed so many relaxing stops to the island. I especially remember learning the "stingray shuffle" and holding stingrays during Castaway Ray's Stingray Adventure. I love that this 2024 Disney cruise will give families plenty of time to explore Disney’s brand-new private island destination on the southernmost tip of Eleuthera without overlooking a day at the old favorite. 

5. Disney Wish theme park and cruise vacation

The Disney Wish is DCL's newest ship (for now), debuting in July 2022 and offering three- and four-night cruises to the Bahamas from Port Canaveral, Florida . The close proximity of Port Canaveral to Walt Disney World makes it easy to combine an Orlando theme park vacation with a Disney Cruise. 

Know before you go: 6 things you didn’t know you could do on a Disney Cruise  

Disney land and sea vacations are the best of both worlds for families with theme park lovers who want to go, go, go, and other family members looking for a more laidback experience. My advice is to head to the theme parks first, get tired out from the walking, rides, and stimulation, and then sail off on a four-night cruise to decompress. My wife and I enjoyed the most expansive stateroom ever when we sailed on the Disney Wish last summer and it couldn't have been more relaxing.

6. Themed Cruises – Pixar, Marvel, and holidays

In January, I had the opportunity to experience Pixar Day at Sea , Disney Cruise Line’s newest themed cruise, on the Disney Fantasy. In my review for FamilyVacationist, I called it an " overflowing toy box of fun " and I'm excited for more families to experience it on a Disney cruise in 2024. The cruise was packed with so many Pixar character meets, themed-activities, special shows, foods, and treats that some of it spilled into additional days at sea. In 2024, Pixar Day at Sea returns to the Disney Fantasy on seven-night Caribbean sailings from January through March.

Set sail: These 6 cruise lines offer the best themed cruises  

Disney's themed cruise days aren't limited to Pixar, either. There's a Marvel Day at Sea on five-night Disney Dream cruises departing Fort Lauderdale from January through March, and when the festive season rolls around most of the ships offer holiday sailings with Halloween on the High Seas and Very Merrytime cruises. 

I was so impressed with the Halloween tree in the ship's atrium when my family sailed on a Halloween cruise. Over the course of the cruise, the tree "bloomed" with spooky Jack-o-lanterns. In addition, Disney characters were decked out in costumes, there was trick-or-treating, and other special activities. And of course Very Merrytime cruises have a tree-lighting ceremony, Mickey and Minnie’s Holiday Party, carolers, special drinks and treats, and appearances by the guest of honor for the cruise, Santa Claus.

7. Disney Treasure Sets Course for Adventure

Last but not least, Disney Treasure joins the Disney Cruise Line fleet with its maiden voyage on December 21, 2024. Adventure is the theme for Disney's sixth cruise ship with spaces and entertainment inspired by "Aladdin," "Coco," "Zootopia," "Jungle Cruise," even "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea." 

Before you book: Everything you need to know about river cruises in the U.S.  

As a fan of the Magic Kingdom’s Jungle Cruise ride and Skipper Canteen restaurant, I can’t wait to get immersed in the kitschy 1930s adventure vibe onboard the Disney Treasure. The ship will sail seven-night itineraries to the eastern and western Caribbean and have a theater-in-the-round restaurant at the Plaza de Coco as well as a cinematic dining experience at Worlds of Marvel. Because these are longer cruises than those available on DCL's other ship in the same class (Disney Wish), you can experience two distinct shows in each of these venues during a voyage. 

The article 7 best Disney cruises for families in 2024 appeared first on FamilyVacationist.com .

More from FamilyVacationist:

• 25 best family vacation spots in the U.S. for all ages
• 50 best family vacation ideas for all ages
• Kids stay free at these 10 all-inclusive family resorts

FamilyVacationist.com and TourScoop.com are owned and operated by Vacationist Media LLC. FamilyVacationist covers family vacation ideas ; family vacation spots ; all-inclusive family resorts ; and must-have travel accessories for families. TourScoop covers guided group tours and tour operators , tour operator reviews , tour itinerary reviews and travel gear recommendations . The views and opinions expressed in this column are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect those of USA TODAY.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: A unique Disney experience: Here's what you can't miss on Disney Cruise Lines

7 - Day The Bahamas from Baltimore, MD

Cruise itinerary.

Day 1: Baltimore

Day 2 & 3: Fun Day at Sea

Day 4: half moon cay, day 5: nassau, day 6: celebration key.

Day 7: Fun Day at Sea

Day 8: baltimore.

Get to Know Carnival Pride

Carnival Pride charms, alright — it's a treat for your eyes, your taste buds... and of course, your fun buds. Invite them all to come enjoy the vacation that this ship is proud to offer. Carnival Pride invites you to dine refined, from the zen-like simplicity of Bonsai Sushi ™ to the art deco ocean liner inspiration of the Normandie Restaurant, to the American-Traditional style of Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse. And of course there's real, delectable substance under all that style. But for something a little more casual, loosen your tie... or maybe just throw it away and grab a main course (and fries) from our main man Guy Fieri, at Guy's Burger Joint ™ . The Mexican heat's optional at BlueIguana Cantina ™ , but make your next stop Cherry on Top ™ — our candy-and-more store — where everything's sweet. And to raise a glass to important sacrifices of the past, Heroes Tribute Bar makes remembrance its primary objective. You'll find yourself with room to move at the Beauties Dance Club, and a hard time sitting still at Playlist Productions ™ . All around this cruise ship you'll discover even more ways to stay cool, like an adult-only pool at Serenity, a fun-only midship pool featuring a retractable roof, plus Carnival Pride's splashy onboard waterpark, Carnival WaterWorks ™ . And if all the waterslide action leaves you needing a little extra unwinding, we recommend you dry off and head to the Cloud 9 Spa ™ . Alongside the pool is the big-screen, big-fun Carnival Seaside Theater ™ , while Seuss at Sea ™ is a good time for kids who love a good rhyme too. (Like we do!) Camp Ocean ® , Circle "C" ® and Club O2 ® prove that we've got spots for cool kids of all ages.

Onboard Activities

Onboard Dining

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Norwegian Cruise Line Cancels Over a Dozen Voyages in 2025 — What to Know

Guests impacted by the cancellations will receive a full refund and a 10% discount in the form of a Future Cruise Credit towards any sailing through Dec. 31, 2025.

Courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line is canceling over a dozen cruises 2025.  The cruise line is nixing multiple voyages throughout next year, Norwegian confirmed to Travel + Leisure on Friday. "The recent 2025 itinerary cancelations are a result of varied events including the ongoing situation in the Red Sea and Israel, modified dry dock schedules for ship enhancements, a full ship charter, and lastly, to accommodate the demand for shorter close-to-home voyages to the Bahamas," a spokesperson for the cruise line told T+L.

The affected itineraries are as follows:

• Norwegian Epic - , Feb. 20, 2025, Nov. 1, 2025, Nov. 11, 2025
• Norwegian Jade - Mar. 4, 2025, Mar. 13, 2025, Mar. 24, 2025
• Norwegian Pearl - Apr. 19, 2025, May 5, 2025, May 16, 2025, Oct. 15, 2025
• Norwegian Sky - May 27, 2025, Jun. 5, 2025
• Norwegian Spirit - Jan. 1, 2025, May 17, 2025
• Norwegian Star - May 18, 2025, May 29, 2025, Jun. 9, 2025,
• Norwegian Viva - May 27, 2025, Sep. 20, 2025, Sep. 29, 2025

The spokesperson also shared with T+L that guests impacted by the cancellations will receive a full refund and a 10% percent discount in the form of a Future Cruise Credit towards any sailing through Dec. 31, 2025. "In addition, we understand the inconvenience and frustration this disruption may cause affected guests, so we have shared alternative sailings similar to their original booking," the spokesperson added, encouraging impacted guests to head to contact the company at 1-800-327-7030 for more information.  

In February 2024, NCL also announced it would no longer dock in Venice, Italy, due to restrictions of the waterways.  “While we have made every effort possible to maintain these calls to Venice, the tender operation and overall experience this provides our guests has fallen short of the standard we aim to deliver,” a spokesperson from NCL told T+L at the time.  Despite the cancellations, the cruise industry continues to rebound since COVID-19 closures. The industry is expected to grow to 130 million global passengers in 2026, which is up from 73 million global passengers in 2022, according to a 2023 report from the Cruise Lines International Association. 

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 Port Adventures Bahamas

Exciting shore excursions specially selected by Disney Cruise Line

 Ports of Call

•  Castaway Cay
•  Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point
•  Key West, Florida
•  Miami, Florida
•  Nassau, Bahamas
•  Port Canaveral, Florida

 Experience Type

•  Sightseeing
•  Private Adventures
•  Signature Collection
•  Beach and Water Adventures
•  Culinary Adventures

 Activity Level

 accessibility.

•  Port Adventures by Accessible Travel Solutions
•  Wheelchair Transfer Required
•  Wheelchair Accessible

 Price Range

•  Less than $50
•  $50 to $99
•  $100 to $199
•  $200 to $399
•  $400 to $799
•  $800 and Above

2-Day Bicycle Rentals - Castaway (C16)

• Active, Sightseeing
• $19.00* (ages 10 and up), $19.00* (ages 3 to 9)
• Castaway Cay

2-Day Castaway Cay Getaway Package (C17)

• Active, Nature, Beach and Water Adventures
• $75.00* (ages 10 and up), $45.00* (ages 5 to 9)

2-Day Float/Tube Rentals - Castaway (C15)

• Nature, Beach and Water Adventures
• $19.00* (ages 10 and up), $19.00* (ages 5 to 9)

2-Day Snorkel Lagoon Equipment Rental (C14)

• $57.00* (ages 10 and up), $33.00* (ages 5 to 9)

Accessible Nassau Forts and Fish Fry (N205A)

• Sightseeing, Cultural
• $199.00* (ages 10 and up), $199.00* (ages 3 to 9), $0.00* (ages 0 to 2)
• Nassau, Bahamas

Accessible Resort Transfers (N206A)

• Sightseeing
• $369.00* (All Ages)

Adventure Jeeps, Beach & Local Lunch - Per Jeep (N10A)

• $459.00* (ages 5 and up)

Aqua Trike Rental (C36)

• Beach and Water Adventures
• $30.00* (ages 5 and up)

Ardastra Gardens and Wildlife Conservation Centre (N16)

• Nature, Sightseeing, Cultural
• $84.00* (ages 10 and up), $59.00* (ages 3 to 9), $0.00* (ages 0 to 2)

Atlantis - Ocean Club Golf Course (N45)

• Active, Nature
• $599.00* (ages 10 and up)

Atlantis Aquaventure (N25)

• Active, Sightseeing, Beach and Water Adventures
• $249.00* (ages 10 and up), $149.00* (ages 4 to 9), $0.00* (ages 0 to 3)

Atlantis Coral Tower Cabana (N65)

• Private Adventures, Beach and Water Adventures
• $699.00* (All Ages)

Atlantis Dolphin Cay Dip ‘N" Discover and Aquaventure (N27)

• $399.00* (ages 10 and up), $319.00* (ages 4 to 9), $0.00* (ages 0 to 3)

Atlantis Dolphin Cay Swim in Wonder and Aquaventure (N49)

• Active, Beach and Water Adventures
• $469.00* (ages 10 and up), $369.00* (ages 6 to 9)

Baha Bay Day Pass at Baha Mar (N35)

• $199.00* (ages 10 and up), $99.00* (ages 3 to 9), $0.00* (ages 0 to 2)

Bahama Bank Boat Escape (LPT19)

• Nature, Sightseeing, Beach and Water Adventures
• $109.00* (ages 10 and up), $79.00* (ages 8 to 9)
• Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point

Banana Boat (LPT08)

• $59.00* (ages 10 and up), $49.00* (ages 8 to 9)

Banana Boat Ride (C85)

• $49.00* (ages 10 and up), $39.00* (ages 8 to 9)

Bicycle Rental (LPT02)

• Active, Nature, Sightseeing
• $15.00* (ages 10 and up), $15.00* (ages 3 to 9)

Bicycle Rentals (C04)

Bike and kayak at disney lookout cay at lighthouse point (lpt03).

• $99.00* (ages 10 to 80)

Blackbeard’s Revenge Pirate Ship Adventure (N23)

• Signature Collection, Cultural
• $74.00* (ages 10 and up), $44.00* (ages 3 to 9), $34.00* (ages 0 to 2)

Blue Lagoon Island Beach Day (N44)

• $85.00* (ages 10 and up), $70.00* (ages 3 to 9), $29.00* (ages 0 to 2)

Blue Lagoon Island Beach Day - Half Day (N69)

• Sightseeing, Beach and Water Adventures
• $58.00* (ages 10 and up), $46.00* (ages 3 to 9), $29.00* (ages 0 to 2)

Blue Lagoon Island Dolphin Encounter (N21)

• $164.00* (ages 10 and up), $149.00* (ages 3 to 9)

Blue Lagoon Island Dolphin Swim (N41)

• $259.00* (ages 10 and up), $259.00* (ages 6 to 9)

Blue Lagoon Island Dolphin/Sea Lion Observer - Must Be Booked With An Animal Encounter (N22)

• $62.00* (ages 10 and up), $59.00* (ages 3 to 9), $29.00* (ages 0 to 2)

Blue Lagoon Island Sea Lion Encounter (N40)

• $149.00* (ages 10 and up), $138.00* (ages 8 to 9)

Blue Lagoon Island VIP Beach Day - Adults Only (N96)

• $127.00* (ages 21 and up)

Castaway Cay Fishing Adventure (C83)

• $219.00* (ages 10 and up), $219.00* (ages 8 to 9)
• * All prices subject to change without notice.

Travel | 8 new ships coming to Norwegian Cruise Line,…

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Subscriber only, travel | 8 new ships coming to norwegian cruise line, sister brands plus dock at great stirrup cay.

The parent company to Norwegian Cruise Line announced Monday a major order for eight new ships among its three brands as well as the construction of a pier to allow its cruise ships to dock instead of tender to its private Bahamas island for the first time.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings said it was planning to bring on four new ships for NCL, two new ships for upper premium brand Oceania Cruises and two ships for luxury brand Regent Seven Seas, all to be built at Fincantieri shipyard in Italy and debut during a 10-year run from 2026-2036.

The NCL ships would be the largest ever built for the line at around 200,000 gross tons and capacity of about 5,000 guests. They won’t arrive until after the final delivery of its Prima-Plus class ships expected between 2025-2028, the larger sister ships to the Norwegian Prima and Viva that debuted in the last couple of years. The four ships from the unnamed class of vessel would arrive in 2030, 2032, 2034 and 2036.

The new class for Oceania Cruises, which in 2023 debuted its first new ship in more than a decade — the Oceania Allura — will also be the largest ever built for the line at 86,000 gross tons and a capacity of 1,450 guests. They’re expected in 2027 and 2029.

And the Regent Seven Seas fleet’s new vessels will also be larger coming in at 77,000 gross tons with a capacity of 850 guests. They’re expected in 2026 and 2029. Regent just debuted the third of its Explorer class ships in December 2023.

“This strategic new-ship order across all three of our award-winning brands provides for the steady introduction of cutting-edge vessels into our fleet and solidifies our long-term growth,” said NCLH president and CEO Harry Sommer in a press release. “It also allows us to significantly leverage our operating scale, strengthen our commitment to innovation and enhance our ability to offer our guests new products and experiences, all while providing opportunities to enhance the efficiency of our fleet.”

No other details about the ships were released. Financing is already in place to fund 80% of the cost for the four ships among the Oceania and Regent orders, but financing for the four NCL ships is not finalized.

The eight ships expects to add 25,000 more to the three cruise lines’ passenger capacity.

In addition, the line is set to construct a multi-ship pier at Great Stirrup Cay, the popular Bahamas private destination visited by all three brands. The move follows the introduction of a dock that can support two Oasis-class vessels at neighboring Perfect Day at Coco Cay for Royal Caribbean while other private Bahamas destinations including Disney’s Castaway Cay and its new Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point feature tenderless docks for easy access.

“We are likewise excited with the addition of a new pier at Great Stirrup Cay to support our increased capacity in the Caribbean and multiple ships to call on the island, enhancing our guest experience and bringing seamless and reliable access to our private island year-round,” Sommer said.

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