Disney Cruise Line is — relatively — a newer cruise line, launching in 1998, and, unlike some family-friendly cruise brands that have long since retired their oldest ships, Disney Cruise Line is still sailing its launch ship: Disney Magic.
In recent history, though, the fleet has also welcomed a steady stream of new cruise ships, like the newest Disney Adventure.
Along these lines, your cruising experience will vary heavily depending on the age of the Disney cruise ship you choose to sail on. Here’s what you need to know.
In This Article:
- Disney Cruise Ships By Age: Newest to Oldest
- 1. Disney Adventure (2026)
- 2. Disney Destiny (2025)
- 3. Disney Treasure (2024)
- 4. Disney Wish (2022)
- 5. Disney Fantasy (2012)
- 6. Disney Dream (2011)
- 7. Disney Wonder (1999)
- 8. Disney Magic (1998)
- Future Disney Cruise Ships
- What Disney Cruise Ships Can You Book Right Now?
- What is the Newest Class of Disney Cruise Ships?
- What’s the Difference Between the Older and Newer Disney Cruise Ships?
- Which Disney Cruise Ship is Right for You?
Disney Cruise Ships By Age: Newest to Oldest
Disney entered the cruising market in 1998 and introduced two ships within quick succession: Disney Magic and Disney Wonder.
However, the cruise line would wait a good long while before introducing any new ships, over a decade, at which point the line once again introduced two brand-new ships, one right after the other.
Again, though, after the introduction of Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy in 2011 and 2012, respectively, the cruise line took a decade-long hiatus before introducing any other ships.
Now, though, we’re getting a bevy of new ships from the line, with brand-new vessels joining the fleet in 2022, 2024 and 2025, with others planned for the near future.
| Ship | Launch | Gross Tonnage |
|---|---|---|
| Disney Adventure | March 2026 | 208,000 |
| Disney Destiny | November 2025 | 144,000 |
| Disney Treasure | December 2024 | 144,000 |
| Disney Wish | June 2022 | 144,000 |
| Disney Fantasy | March 2012 | 130,000 |
| Disney Dream | January 2011 | 130,000 |
| Disney Wonder | August 1999 | 84,000 |
| Disney Magic | July 1998 | 84,000 |
If you’re not sure which ship will be right for you and your family (and don’t just assume that the newest ships are always the best for every cruiser), here are all the ships listed from newest to oldest, with everything you need to know about amenities, vibes and what to expect otherwise.
1. Disney Adventure (2026)
Disney Adventure is technically the newest named ship in Disney Cruise Line’s fleet, and was originally scheduled to launch on Dec. 15, 2025. However, the vessel has been delayed, and the new maiden voyage is March 10, 2026.
The ship is a unique one, as it will be in its own class, and will be the only member of that class: the Global class. This decision was made, in part, because the ship wasn’t originally built for Disney Cruise Line at all.
Instead, the ship was originally ordered for Star Cruises and Dream Cruises, but after the ship’s original owners went bankrupt, Disney Cruise Line purchased the half-baked ship at a discounted price and began the work of turning it into a Disney-branded ship.
This ship marks a few firsts for Disney Cruise Line. It’s launching into the Asian market, from Singapore, for example, as the first ship in the fleet to serve a market other than the United States. Additionally, it’s the first Disney cruise ship to use methanol.
All-new attractions on the ship include the longest rollercoaster at sea, dubbed Ironcycle Test Run, situated in a Marvel Universe-inspired adventure zone, as well as a mini-car racer track attraction and a Groot-themed ride, all in that same adventure zone.
Unique themed areas around the ship include Disney Imagination Garden, Toy Story Place, San Fransokyo Street, Town Square, Wayfinder Bay, Disney Discovery Reef and Marvel Landing.
Toy Story Place will be of interest to families with kids; the outdoor space includes family-friendly features like a family pool, splash pads and similar, all geared around the Toy Story franchise.
Families will also enjoy heading to San Fransokyo Street to experience the Hiro Training Zone in the Big Hero Arcade, an immersive, high-tech game for four.
Entertainment also takes center stage, as it does on every Disney ship, with Broadway-style shows in traditional theaters and an open-air amphitheater for even more fun.
Disney’s rotational dining styles allows guests to experience a few main dining rooms, and then guests can also choose from two buffets and a generous handful of additional premium or quick-service restaurants and bars.
- Gross Tonnage (GT): 208,000
- Shipbuilder: Meyer Werft/MV Werften
- Maiden Voyage: March. 10, 2026
- Length: 1,122 feet
- Decks: 19
- Guest capacity: 6,000 people
- Crew: 2,300 people
2. Disney Destiny (2025)
Premiering just a month before Disney Adventure, Disney Destiny is significantly smaller than Disney Adventure, both in terms of overall gross tonnage/size, as well as in terms of passenger capacity. Disney Destiny firmly sits in line with its sister ships in the Wish class.
Disney Destiny has a heroes-and-villains theme, and the new offerings aboard the ship reflect that. A new piano lounge dubbed De Vil’s takes inspiration from legendary Disney villain Cruella De Vil. The new Cask and Cannon pub takes inspiration from Pirates of the Caribbean, for morally gray, if not outright devilish, fun.
The ship features the AquaMouse water ride that was originally introduced on Disney Wish, but the storyline featured on the ride is new, with a nod to vintage Mickey Mouse shorts.
Disney Destiny also introduces a brand new main dining room to Disney Cruise Line’s rotational dining offerings. Pride Lands: Feast of The Lion King features savanna themeing, and entertainers will delight cruisers with hit songs from the movie’s soundtrack throughout dinner.
Another new food option on the ship is Edna Á La Mode Sweets, a sweets shop designed around the character Edna Mode from The Incredibles.
- Gross Tonnage (GT): 144,000 GT
- Shipbuilder: Meyer Werft
- Maiden Voyage: Nov. 20, 2025
- Length: 1,115 feet
- Decks: 15
- Guest capacity: 4,000 people
- Crew: 1,555 people
3. Disney Treasure (2024)
Disney Treasure is Disney Cruise Line’s sixth ship and brings with it a new concept that embraces the adventure to be had in far-away lands, with a suitable treasure-hunting motif inspired by the fictional world of Agrabah, from Disney’s classic film Aladdin.
New features that first appeared on Disney Treasure include a main dining room experience themed after the film Coco; Plaza de Coco provides, of course, Mexican eats.
A new sweet shop is Jumbeaux’s Sweets, with a Zootopia theme. New adult spaces include Skipper Society, a bar mimicking the feel of Disney’s Jungle Cruise, and Periscope Pub, a venue inspired by 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. There is also the new Haunted Mansion Parlor.
However, while Disney Treasure is new in some ways, you might notice the similarities if you’ve already traveled on Disney Wish in the past. Disney Wish set sail in 2022, and Disney Treasure is the next in the same class. All these ships offer 1,254 guest rooms and are powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG).
- Gross Tonnage (GT): 144,000
- Shipbuilder: Meyer Werft
- Maiden Voyage: Dec. 21, 2024
- Length: 1,119 feet
- Decks: 15
- Guest capacity: 4,000 people
- Crew: 1,555 people
4. Disney Wish (2022)
Disney Wish is Disney Cruise Line’s fifth ship and took its inaugural sailing in the summer of 2022. As the first of its class and the lead ship for this new class, Disney Wish set a new standard of Disney Cruise Line sailing, with upgraded experiences, from the staterooms and suites, to the entertainment to the dining.
Special, never-before-seen features at the ship’s launch included the first Disney attraction at sea, the AquaMouse (similar to a Disney theme park ride, but situated on the cruise ship); expanded kids clubs that incorporate characters from the Marvel and Star Wars universes; a suite within the ship’s funnel; and all-new dining options that really up the ante for the traveling adults on a cruise.
Disney Wish was the first liquefied natural gas-powered ship for Disney. It was also the largest ship for Disney to date.
If you want to learn more about Disney Wish, you can easily do so without browsing online guides. National Geographic made a documentary on the ship’s construction, which is available on Disney Plus, called “Making the Disney Wish: Disney’s Newest Cruise Ship.”
- Gross Tonnage (GT): 144,000
- Shipbuilder: Meyer Werft
- Maiden voyage: July 14, 2022
- Length: 1,119 feet
- Decks: 14
- Guest capacity: 5,555
- Crew: 1,555
5. Disney Fantasy (2012)
Disney Cruise Line’s fourth-ever cruise ship and the second ship within the Dream class, Disney Fantasy, was announced in 2007 and launched in 2012 after a delayed construction.
The ship also underwent a dry docking period in 2017, for extra updates. While the ship isn’t quite as modern as Disney Wish, it’s still hardly anything to turn your nose up at, packing in lots of Disney-typical family fun and unique amenities.
Disney Fantasy is scheduled for another dry dock in the latter part of 2025, which is expected to add a new tower suite to the ship, as well as a cantina, while updating some of the public spaces.
Like past Disney cruise ships, Disney Fantasy features a vintage aesthetic, leaning Art Nouveau in its public spaces and staterooms.
Both Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream are a little bit larger than the Disney cruise ships that came before them. However, even with that extra size, the ships are still relatively intimate and easy to navigate.
Special, fan-favorite features on the ship include the AquaDuck and AquaLab, family-friendly water features, the former of which is a water coaster; multiple Broadway-style shows; adult-exclusive fine-dining restaurants; and royalty-inspired rotational dining for the family.
- Gross Tonnage (GT): 130,000
- Shipbuilder: Meyer Werft
- Maiden voyage: March 31, 2012
- Length: 1,115 feet
- Passenger decks: 14
- Guest capacity: 2,500
- Crew: 1,458
- Cabins: 1,250
6. Disney Dream (2011)
Disney Dream is very similar to the newer Disney Fantasy, with just some slight differences in stylings (for example, there’s that same vintage aesthetic, though Disney Dream leans more toward Art Deco).
The third Disney ship ever, Disney Dream was Disney’s first foray into cruising after a long break following the debut of its first few ships. The prior two Disney ships launched in the 1990s, while Disney Dream didn’t come along until the 2010s.
Much like Disney Fantasy, while Disney Dream debuted in the 2010s, it has received more recent updates. Disney Dream’s most major dry dock occurred in 2015, upgrading children’s areas, restaurants and adults-only areas.
Another dry dock occurred in 2024, which added a new funnel suite, updated the kids clubs and spa, and provided cruisers with a new dining experience: Donald’s Cantina.
The stand-out, specialty features on this ship are nearly identical to those you’ll find on Disney Fantasy. There’s the AquaDuck water coaster and other, similar water features for families.
There are three rotational restaurants with royalty themes (and the staple Animator’s Palate restaurant that you’ll find on most of the older Disney cruise ships). An adults-only area of the ship is dubbed The District and it offers a variety of bars, lounges and nightclubs with various themes and offerings.
- Gross Tonnage (GT): 130,000
- Shipbuilder: Meyer Werft
- Maiden voyage: January 26, 2011
- Length: 1,115 feet
- Passenger decks: 14
- Guest capacity: 4,000
- Crew: 1,458
- Staterooms: 1,250
7. Disney Wonder (1999)
Disney’s second cruise ship, Disney Wonder, launched in 1999 and is sister ship to Disney Magic. Together, the two ships are the smallest of Disney’s cruise ships, at an intimate 83,000 GT, with just under 900 staterooms in total. Disney Wonder is a bit smaller than Disney Magic, but you won’t really notice that, the difference is so minimal.
Like both of the Dream-class ships mentioned above, Disney Wonder and Disney Magic do both feature that vintage ocean liner theme-ing, with decor and elements that hearken back to the 1910s and 1920s.
Read Also: Disney Cruise Ships by Size – Largest to Smallest
Since this ship did debut quite a while ago, it’s received some expansive renovations since. In 2016, the ship underwent a massive refurbishment that added a wide array of features.
This dry dock included the addition of an adults-only district for after-hours fun, a teens-only spa, a family lounge, tennis clubs, multiple restaurants and bars, a nursery, Marvel-themed children’s area and new pool and splash areas for the kiddos.
During this 2016 dry dock, one of the ship’s few exclusive features was added: the Tiana’s Place restaurant. The New Orleans-inspired eatery appears only on this single Disney cruise ship.
Another dry dock occurred in 2023, but it was mostly restricted to cosmetic enhancements, such as replacing carpet — not very exciting, but something that’s often much-appreciated on these older ships.
- Gross Tonnage (GT): 83,000
- Shipbuilder: Fincantieri
- Maiden voyage: August 15, 1999
- Length: 964 feet
- Decks: 11
- Guest capacity: 2,400
- Crew: 945
- Staterooms: 875
8. Disney Magic (1998)
As the oldest Disney cruise ship, Disney Magic was the very first Disney Cruise Line ship ever. While launching in the 1990s put Disney Cruise Line behind other family-centric lines that had launched decades earlier (like Carnival), Disney quickly caught up and brought with it lots of Disney magic fun, in the appropriately named Disney Magic.
This ocean liner-inspired ship debuted almost in tandem with its sister ship, Disney Wonder, but the two have very minute differences, in terms of both size and style.
However, on both ships, you’ll find an intimate environment, classic theme-ing, lots of Disney fun and plenty of activities for both kids and adults alike.
Since this ship debuted about three decades ago, it has received some upgrades. The largest overhaul took place in 2013, with the addition of water features and children’s areas, as well as upgrades to cabins, restaurants, public spaces and the spa.
However, since even 2013 was a decade ago, other, smaller dry dock refurbishments have also taken place since 2013.
Most recently, the ship spent three weeks in the Bahamas undergoing refurbishments in 2023. The ship added new concierge-level staterooms; the Promenade Lounge was updated and changed into Soul Cat Lounge; and general cosmetic updates were made.
- Gross tonnage: 83,338 GT
- Shipbuilder: Fincantieri
- Maiden voyage: July 30, 1998
- Length: 984 feet
- Decks: 11
- Guest capacity: 2,713
- Crew: 945
- Staterooms: 875
Future Disney Cruise Ships
As alluded above, DCL has a bevy of new ships coming down the pipeline in the very near future.
A fourth and final, unnamed Wish-class ship is planned to debut in 2027. This ship will be much like its sister ships in the Wish class, measuring in at 144,000 GT and capable of holding about 4,000 passengers.
After this ship debuts, Disney Cruise Line will look to three other ships that it has planned. While some cruise lines, though, always aim to go bigger and better with each and every new ship that comes out, the line is doing something totally different by actually going smaller with these future ships.
Worth Reading: Disney Cruise Line to Expand Fleet With Four New Ships by 2031
The next three planned ships, expected to set sail in 2029, 2030 and 2031, will clock in at about 100,000 gross tons and only carry about 3,000 passengers each.
While this makes the ships smaller than the majority of the cruise line’s ships, particularly its newer ships, the ships will still be larger than the oldest in the fleet.
The reason why Disney Cruise Line is going smaller rather than bigger? For one, smaller ships can travel to more destinations, more new and exciting Disney itineraries.
What Disney Cruise Ships Can You Book Right Now?
You can actually book cruises on the newest ship in the fleet right now! Disney Adventure bookings opened up to the public in late 2024.
What is the Newest Class of Disney Cruise Ships?
The newest class of Disney cruise ships is technically the Wish class, unless you want to consider the Global class, in which you’ll find Disney Adventure.
However, since the Global class only has this one ship and will never include any further ships, it’s difficult to really consider it a typical cruise ship class.
What’s the Difference Between the Older and Newer Disney Cruise Ships?
While Disney Cruise Line has really kept even the oldest ships in its fleet updated over time, there are still key differences between new ships like Disney Adventure and Disney Destiny, and old ships like Disney Magic.
For one, there’s just the overall size. The older ships are much smaller and that means fewer crowds and less people, but also fewer amenities and options when it comes to dining and entertainment. The newer ships are much bigger and decked out with lots of bells, whistles and no lack of choice.
The newer ships are also more tech-focused, with immersive, high-tech experiences and that’s reflected in just about every element of your cruise. Newer ships are also more focused on themes that reflect newer Disney films and franchises, such as Marvel and Star Wars.
Which Disney Cruise Ship is Right for You?
It’s all going to depend on what kind of cruiser you are.
If you’re on vacation with a gaggle of kids and you really want them to have as much to do as possible, you might prefer sailing on a newer ship.
Likewise, if you really value traveling on big, new cruise ships with more luxury vibes, Disney Adventure or Disney Destiny is the way to go.
Read Also: How Much Is a Disney Cruise? I Did All the Checking!
However, if you prefer smaller ships with a more intimate feel and fewer crowds, and you really don’t mind having fewer options and less flashy tech features, then you may feel right at home on one of the cruise line’s older ships.
Whichever way you go, though, one thing’s certain: You’ll experience a cruise that’s jam-packed with Disney magic.
