Disney Cruise Line is one of the pricier mainstream options, so I avoided it for years, opting for more budget-friendly lines like Carnival and Royal Caribbean.
However, growing up sailing with Disney and having fond family memories aboard Disney Magic and Fantasy, I longed for the day I'd return to the most magical ships at sea—there's nothing quite like sailing with Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, and your other favorite pals!
Last year, I found a fare I was finally willing to splurge on. I booked a 3-night cruise aboard Disney Magic to the cruise line's newest private destination in the Bahamas: Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point.
Still, the cruise wasn't cheap, coming in at $528 per night for two people in a standard inside cabin. Compartively, I paid $1,396.76 for a 5-night cruise to Bermuda on Royal Caribbean's Vision of the Seas, a ship the same age as Disney Magic launched in the late 1990s. This breaks down to roughly $139 per night, per person.
While the price tag of a Disney cruise is higher, the experience is something special. The service is incredible; the entertainment is top-notch; and the attention to detail is unmatched.
After three magical days on the Disney Magic, I’m already counting down to my birthday cruise on the new Disney Destiny in 2026!
Read more: I sailed on my first Disney cruise. I loved the Broadway-style shows but didn't enjoy all the food
Best theater shows at sea
Having attended Broadway shows since I was five, I'm a bit of a snob when it comes to entertainment.
Most of the time, cruise performances are mediocre, with simplistic choreography and low-budget sets. I've found that Royal Caribbean has good Broadway-style shows, including Mamma Mia and Hairspray. The AquaTheater and ice skating shows are a bonus!
However, I've never been so impressed by cruise ship entertainment as I was aboard Disney Magic. Every single show, from Tangled: The Musical to Disney Dreams - An Enchanted Classic and Twice Charmed: An Original Twist on the Cinderella Story, was truly Broadway-caliber.
Truth be told, I had high expectations for Disney's productions as they are—at their heart—an entertainment company, and I wasn't disappointed. The attention to detail in the costumes and sets was top-notch, and the talented cast was better than some I've seen on Broadway recently.
Considering tickets to touring shows, especially in cities like Charlotte, can start around $200 for orchestra seats, the high-quality productions on Disney help justify the high price tag.
I'm excited to watch Hercules come to live aboard Disney Destiny! It's the first time the show will be offered on a Disney ship since 2008.
Read more: Shows You Can See on a Disney Cruise
Immersive dining
Food is subjective. For example, I could eat raw tomatoes all day long, but my fiancée despises them. Likewise, mushrooms are one of the few foods I refuse to eat.
Overall, I found the dining on Disney cruise to be what you'd expect for a family-friendly line. The complimentary pizza reminded me of Sorrento's on Royal Caribbean ships, and the Main Dining Room food was good but not worth a Michelin star.
However, the unique rotational system makes Disney's dining stand out. Regardless of whether you choose the early or late seating (there's no flexible dining on Disney ships!), you're assigned a table number for the duration of your cruise. You'll dine with the same tablemates and have the same waitstaff throughout your journey.
However, the dining room rotates. For example, aboard Disney Magic, we started our 3-night cruise in Animator's Palate before moving to Rapunzel's Royal Table and ending in Lumiere's. As expected each room had a different theme and menu, so the experience varied from night to night.
The rotational dining made dinner feel like an event, rather than a formality! That said, though the dishes were generally well-prepared, they were more akin to standard cruise food.
For the price tag, I would have preferred dishes similar to the food quality served in specialty restaurants on lines like Royal Caribbean. Still, the experience was better than massive cruise ship dining rooms, which often feel overwhelming and overstimulating.
I also appreciated the ship's buffet, which offered a wide variety of dishes, from crab legs and shrimp to carved meats. The selection was impressive and highlighted how Disney goes beyond catering to families with young children—it wasn't your average kid-friendly buffet with chicken tenders and pasta!
One of the reasons my partner and I decided to book Disney Destiny was the new restaurant themes. I've been dying to try Worlds of Marvel since it was launched on Disney Wish!
That's not all, either. The new ship will feature an immersive Lion King musical restaurant. The first-of-its-kind dining experience will celebrate Simba’s journey to fulfill his destiny as King of the Pride Lands.
Thoughtfully designed cabins
If you've ever sailed on an older cruise ship, think Royal Caribbean's Vision Class or Carnival's Fantasy Class, you know not to expect much when it comes to the cabins. Sure, they're appointed with everything you need for a comfortable stay, but they're far short of luxurious.
While my inside cabin on Disney Magic wasn't like a room you'd find at the Grand Floridan or Riveria Resort, it was a major upgrade from other cruise ship cabins I've sailed in. Of course, it showed signs of wear and tear, but it also had a nostalgic, nautical charm.
To start, I was impressed with the number of charging options available. Not only were there eight outlets near the vanity, but the stateroom was outfitted with bedside outlets, too.
Speaking of the bed, I cannot emphasize how comfortable it was.
I've never had a bed that soft on a cruise ship, and I stayed in a suite aboard a brand-new cruise ship last year! It made it that much more difficult to wake up each morning.
The spacious bathroom was unexpected, too. While many Disney cabins feature a split-bathroom design, we had a full bathroom because we were in the cheapest stateroom on the ship.
That said, Disney didn't skimp on the amenities. From the tub-shower combo to the upgraded toiletries and quality towels, the bathroom was a step up from most cruise ship bathrooms on older ships, showcasing Disney's commitment to the overall guest experience.
Unlike other mainstream cruise lines that have experienced cutbacks in cabin housekeeping, Disney stateroom attendants still service the room twice daily.
At night, they even left chocolate and created unbelievable blanket art that far surpasses traditional towel animals.
I'm excited to see how luxurious Disney's new staterooms feel when sailing aboard Disney Destiny!
Since we're cruising for my birthday, we decided to splurge on a veranda. So not only will we have a private balcony, but the stateroom will be larger and feature the split-bathroom design.
Speedy and attentive service
The service on Disney Magic left a lasting impression. From day one, we never struggled to order a drink at the bar or had lengthy waits for our food in the Main Dining Room.
For example, if we wanted to order a drink before a show in the theater, it was easy to locate a bartender. Plus, instead of taking multiple orders, the bartender focused on a singular party. I never waited more than five minutes for a cocktail!
I also learned that Disney's waitstaff isn't tasked with serving seemingly endless tables. Instead, our waitress Donna informed us that she was responsible for three tables during our rotation.
Whenever we needed anything, she was readily available and provided a level of service that felt genuinely attentive.
Is Disney Cruise Line worth the money?
Everyone's vacation preferences differ, and each line brings something unique to the table. Having sailed on lines like Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, and Celebrity, I can confirm that you can't go into the experience thinking it'll be standardized across the industry.
For example, cruisers looking to let loose in a casual environment might prefer Carnival, whereas adults seeking an itinerary-focused voyage on an upscale ship may enjoy a Celebrity or Princess cruise.
There's a lot to appreciate about all cruise lines, and while Disney might not be the most affordable, sailing on a Disney cruise is an adventure you won't forget. From the attention to detail to the character meet and greets, and quality production shows, it's hard to match the onboard experience.
Overall, I felt I got my money's worth on Disney Magic. My cruise on Disney Destiny is more expensive, coming in at $3,125 for a 4-night sailing in a balcony cabin. However, newer cruise ships tend to be more expensive.
Plus, because it's a larger ship, there's more to do onboard, including the AquaMouse waterslide, expanded adult-only areas, and more. I'm especially looking forward to the Haunted Mansion and 101 Dalmations-themed bars!
Is it worth $390 per person, per night? It depends on what you're looking for. For us, however, the splurge is easily justified.
Read more: How much does a Disney Cruise cost?
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.
