With only six ships currently in operation, Disney Cruise Line is one of the smallest mainstream cruise lines, and each ship is part of one of three classes: Magic, Dream, and Wish.
Disney does not have as long of a history, either. Disney Magic, the cruise line's first ship, debuted in July 1998, followed by Disney Wonder in August 1999, Disney Dream in 2011, Disney Fantasy in 2012, Disney Wish in 2022, and Disney Treasure in 2024.
In 2025, Disney Cruise Line plans on releasing two new ships, with the first being Disney Wish's sister ship, Disney Destiny. The cruise line is also launching its first-ever Global Class ship (AKA their largest ship ever!) called Disney Adventure.
Below, you will find a breakdown of each of Disney Cruise Line's ships by size!
Read more: Top 45 Disney Cruise Line tips and secrets
Brief history of Disney Cruise Line
Prior to Disney branching out and introducing their own cruise line, they were actually partnered with Premier Cruise Line from 1985 until 1993. During this time, Disney characters were allowed to be onboard "The Big Red Boat," and they were able to offer cruise, hotel, and theme park packages.
In May of 1994, they announced that they were planning to start their own cruise line. It would not be until 1998 that their first ship, Disney Magic, would enter service. In 1996, Gorda Cay was purchased and transformed into Castaway Cay. This endeavor cost $25 million and took about eighteen months to complete.
For a little over ten years, Disney Cruise Line operated a two-ship fleet; it was not until 2011 that they expanded to three ships. From 1998 to 2011, major competitors, such as Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Norwegian, had an average of 13 ships enter service.
Their competition, however, was unable to provide guests with the Disney magic that makes these cruises so special. Only on a Disney cruise will you be able to meet your favorite Disney characters, enjoy themed dining experiences, and watch movies come to life before your eyes in the theatre. In other words, from the moment you step onboard, you are immersed in the world of Disney.
Wish Class
Disney Wish
The Wish Class is currently the cruise line's largest class of ships. Right now, there are two operational ships in this class: Disney Wish and Disney Treasure. Disney plans to add another Wish Class ship to their fleet by the end of 2025.
At 144,000 gross registered tons with a passenger capacity of about 4,000, Disney Wish is not a small ship by any means; however, she certainly is not the largest at sea, either.
Onboard, you will find a bunch of Disney firsts, including the 1,966 square foot Disney Concierge Tower Suite, the Marceline Market, three brand-new rotational main dining restaurants, the Star Wars-themed Hyperspace Lounge, AquaMouse water coaster, redesigned staterooms, and two Broadway-style shows that are exclusive to the ship.
Throughout the 2025 and 2026 seasons, Disney Wish is scheduled to make 3- and 4-night cruises to the Bahamas, with stops at Nassau and their private island, Disney's Castaway Cay, as well as their new private destination Lookout Cay.
In terms of pricing, Disney is one of the more expensive mainstream cruise lines. A 3-night Bahamas cruise onboard Disney Wish will cost you at least $3,270 for four people staying in an inside cabin.
If you opt to sail on one of their holiday itineraries (i.e., Halloween on the High Seas and Very Merrytime sailings), you can expect to pay even more.
Disney Treasure
Disney Treasure is the second Wish Class ship that just entered service in December 2024. The ship's theme is adventure, and guests will be immersed in this from the second they step into the atrium that's designed after the world of Jasmine and Aladdin.
Additionally, there's a brand-new sweets shop, a Haunted Mansion-themed bar, a redesigned AquaMouse coaster, and more.
Size-wise, Disney Treasure has the same measurements as Disney Wish, coming in at 144,000 gross registered tons with a passenger capacity of 4,000. She's also 1,119 feet long and 128 feet wide.
Disney Destiny
The third Wish Class ship, Disney Destiny, will launch in November 2025. The ship, inspired by heroes and villains alike, will draw on the legacies of Disney stores, characters, and theme park attractions. Think of stories like "The Lion King," "Hercules," and "One Hundred and One Dalmatians."
Currently, the ship is under construction at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany.
Dream Class
Disney Fantasy
Disney Fantasy was Disney's newest cruise ship for about a decade! She set sail on her maiden voyage on March 31, 2022, and Disney Wish did not enter service until July 2022.
She is the second Dream Class ship, second to only Disney Dream, and comes in at 130,000 gross registered tons. The ship carries around 4,000 passengers on any given sailing in 1,250 staterooms that are comprised of 150 inside cabins, 199 ocean view cabins, 880 verandah cabins, and 21 suites.
On the top decks, you will find the AquaDuck water coaster, as well as the AquaLab and Nemo's Reef water play areas, Goofy's Sports Deck, and two different pools.
Fun fact: Did you know that Dumbo and Timothy, the two characters on the ship's stern, weigh more than 2,300 pounds? Dumbo began his journey in Glendale, California before being shipped to Florida and finally to Papenburg, Germany for installation.
Disney Dream
Disney Dream was the first Dream Class ship. She debuted a little over eleven years after Disney Wonder, the final Magic Class ship. Like her younger sister, she, too, weighs 130,000 gross registered tons and has a passenger capacity of 4,000 passengers.
Disney Dream was the first ship to feature the AquaDuck water coaster, as well as the first-ever Disney Cruise Line live production of Beauty and the Beast in the Walt Disney Theatre. There are even two new musical numbers that were written by Alan Menken and Tim Rice for this exclusive production!
Of course, you will find three rotational dining venues onboard, including the infamous Animator's Palate, Royal Palace, and Enchanted Garden.
Magic Class
Disney Wonder
At only 85,000 gross registered tons, Disney Wonder is on the smaller side of cruise ships. Because of that, it can feel more intimate than today's mega-ships, especially since her passenger capacity is just a little over 2,700 guests.
Despite the ship's size, you will find that there are plenty of amenities and activities onboard, such as the Twist 'n' Sprout water slide, two different swimming pools, and AquaLab and Dory's Reef water play areas. While there are not any exclusive theatre shows onboard the ship, you are sure to enjoy The Golden Mickeys, Disney Dreams—An Enchanted Classic, and Frozen shows.
If, however, you are sailing to Alaska, you can enjoy a few special experiences that you will not find on any other itineraries, including the Pixar Pals Party and Frozen Deck Party. During the Pixar Pals Party, you can expect to hang out with characters from Toy Story, Up, Monsters, Inc., and more!
During 2019, she underwent a dry dock where the ship received major enchantments, such as the brand-new French Quarter Lounge inspired by Disney's Princess and the Frog, adults-only Cove Cavé, and a reimagined teen club.
Disney Magic
Making her much-anticipated debut in 1998 was Disney Magic, the cruise line's first cruise ship. Like her younger sister, she, too, is only 84,000 gross registered tons. In 875 staterooms, she can accommodate 2,700 passengers at full capacity.
Unlike newer ships, Disney Magic offers a higher percentage of interior and ocean-view staterooms for guests. There are, for instance, 262 interior staterooms, which make up 30% of all staterooms. Onboard Disney Wish, however, there are only 121 interior staterooms, or 10%! Additionally, there are 229 ocean-view staterooms, 362 verandahs, and 22 suites on Disney Magic.
She underwent an extensive dry dock in 2013 where she received the cruise line's only AquaDunk slide, a three-story slide that drops you from a platform through a 212-foot tube! Later in 2018, Rapunzel's Royal Table was added as another rotational dining venue.
Once onboard, you will also find the Wide World of Sports Deck, Goofy's family pool, and the AquaLab and Nephews' Splash Zone water play areas. Adults will enjoy After Hours in Fathoms, Cove Café, the Quiet Cove Pool, and O'Gills Pub.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
