The first cruise I ever took was on Disney Cruise Lines. At first glance, it seemed to be an unlikely match for me and my family – the kids were ages 10-16 at the time, a bit past the age of being enraptured by the magic of Disney. Still, they were long-time fans of all things Disney, as was I, and we had a wonderful voyage from Los Angeles to Puerto Vallarta. I was, frankly, a little concerned that a Disney Cruise experience would be all little kids and their weary parents every second, everywhere we went on the ship. We were pleasantly surprised, however, at the many ways a Disney Cruise is suitable for all ages including being a boatload of fun (pun intended) and very relaxing for adults. When I got a virtual preview of what the newest ship, Disney Wish, was going to entail, I couldn’t wait to tell Real Food Traveler readers what they can expect. The ship, which is accepting bookings beginning May 27, 2021, to sail starting in the summer of 2022, has every age group’s enjoyment and comfort in mind, ensuring that Disney Wish isn’t just for kids. It’s going to be pretty dreamy for grownups too. Because the first voyage is a year away, the general hope is that the pandemic will be a thing of the past, the vast majority of travelers will be vaccinated, and that cruise travel can resume again, freely and safely. Here’s a sneak peek at what to expect, starting summer 2022.

Save this article about the Disney Wish Cruise Ship to Pinterest so you can start planning your Disney Wish voyage. Image by RealFoodTraveler.

A tropical itinerary for Disney Wish Cruise Ship

Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship makes its maiden voyage on June 9, 2022 with a five-day trip to Nassau, Bahamas, and Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay. That will be followed by three- and four-night cruises to the same destinations from Port Canaveral, Florida.

Setting sale in summer 2022, the Disney Wish will be a celebration of Disney’s rich legacy of enchanting storytelling that brings to life the fantastical worlds and beloved characters at the heart of Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars adventures like never before. Photo courtesy Disney.

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A ship theme that’s full of possibilities 

The motif will be pure Disney, of course, with a theme of “enchantment.” You’ll find it throughout the ship including from the Grand Hall (where a wishing star descends from the chandelier), in the state rooms, and Walt Disney Theatre which has a magical forest setting. “Enchantment” doesn’t only mean princesses and fairy tales. It also means Marvel! More on that, below.

The Walt Disney Theatre is an opulent show palace that will come alive with original Broadway-style stage productions developed exclusively for Disney Cruise Line. This elegant, 1,274-seat theater will be designed to evoke an enchanted forest, imbuing the atmosphere with a sense of magic inspired by scenes from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ legendary film “Fantasia.” Photo courtesy Disney.

Options for fun in the sun on Disney Wish Cruise Ship

One of the major features of the Disney Wish ship is the AquaMouse, a family water ride attraction that shows animated shorts of “The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse” as you make your way through 760 feet of winding tubes that are suspended over the upper decks.

Guests will be immersed in “The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse” animated shorts aboard the first-ever Disney attraction at sea, AquaMouse. Complete with show scenes, lighting and special effects, and splashtacular surprises, this wild water ride is sure to delight everyone in the family as they zig, zag, and zoom through 760 feet of winding tubes, suspended high above the upper decks. Photo courtesy Disney.

The ship will have three themed “districts” with dedicated spaces for families with little ones, kids, and adults. There will be six pools, staggered among tiered decks. For adults, Quiet Cove is their refuge with an infinity pool, bar, and café. I remember being surprised at how elegant and quiet the adult area was on the ship we sailed on years ago. Quiet Cove looks to be that way and better.

Adults will indulge in sun-drenched serenity at Quiet Cove, a peaceful refuge dedicated to lounging, sipping, and soaking. Set away from the bustle of family activities, this secluded adults-only district will feature a luxurious infinity pool, poolside bar, and chic cafe. Photo courtesy Disney.

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All the food and drink options you could (Disney Wish) for

Of course, being the publisher of a culinary travel magazine, I was very interested to learn more about the food scene on Disney Wish. To quote Lumiere, in Beauty and the Beast, it’s all a Culinary Cabaret. Disney Wish will have three new family dining concepts – Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure with live entertainment from Elsa, Anna, Kristoff and Olaf performed in-the-round, with cuisine that takes its inspiration from Nordic cuisine, following the theme of the movie. Worlds of Marvel will bring a menu that’s inspired by the Marvel Cinematic Universe while an action-packed Marvel adventure happens throughout the dining experience. Still considered family dining, 1923 will be a calmer, more elegant meal experience. Named after the year The Walt Disney Company was founded, it serves cuisine from various cultures that make up California’s past and present.

Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure is Disney’s first “Frozen”-themed theatrical dining experience that will bring the world of Arendelle to life through immersive live entertainment – featuring favorite characters like Elsa, Anna, Kristoff, and Olaf – and world-class cuisine infused with Nordic influences. Photo courtesy Disney.

There will, as usual, be options for a quick bite by the pool, more casual dining, and 24-hour room service. The dining options I’m most excited about are on the more gourmet side all inspired by Beauty and the Beast (my personal favorite of all Disney films): Enchante will have a menu by Chef Arnaud Lallement, a 3-Michelin-star chef. It’s vibe is meant to be romantic and elegant, inspired by Lumiere. Palo Steakhouse channels Cogsworth the majordomo transformed into a slightly pretentious clock. Not pretentious, but elegant just the same, this is an evolution of the Palo restaurant frequent Disney cruises will be familiar with. But this version serves authentic Italian cuisine with a modern steakhouse feeling. At the heart of both restaurants is the lounge, The Rose, available to visit before or after dining at either restaurant. The Rose, or course, was the ever-present element in the beloved story.

Aboard the Disney Wish, guests will savor an upscale suite of epicurean excellence exclusively for adults, inspired by the elegant icons of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Beauty and the Beast.” Enchante by Chef Arnaud Lallement will offer the most luxurious dining experience on board, featuring a gourmet menu crafted by a three-Michelin-starred chef and a romantic design inspired by the film’s candelabra maitre d’, Lumiere. Photo courtesy Disney.

One particularly fun place the grownups can visit is the Star Wars: Hyperspace Lounge. It won’t be hard to imagine you’re in the most elegant space ship in the fleet with visuals that take you to different spots in the galaxy, familiar to Star Wars fans, with a food and drink menu inspired by famous stops in the series.

For the first time on a Disney ship, guests will embark on a space-jumping tour of the “Star Wars” galaxy at “Star Wars”: Hyperspace Lounge, a high-end bar styled as a luxurious yacht-class spaceship. This richly themed, immersive experience will be reserved for adults every evening, offering interactive tasting experiences, and signature beverages inspired by destinations such as Batuu, Tatooine, and Mustafar. Photo courtesy Disney.

Where will the kids be while the adults are enjoying all of their grownup time? At the Disney Oceaneer Club, of course. See more on that, below.

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Entertainment for all ages at sea on the Disney Wish cruise ship

Technology plays a big part in the options on Disney Wish including in The Grand Hall’s first-ever Atrium stage; in Luna that transitions from daytime fun for families to an adults-only evening venue with interactive live shows; Hero Zone for some futuristic sports activities, challenges, and game show competitions. Catch a classic or first-run movie in two different theaters – I remember this being a favorite of my kids and I who enjoyed ducking into movie, “marvel”ing at the fact that we were in a floating movie theater on the ocean. The Walt Disney Theatre hosts Broadway-style stage shows you won’t see anywhere else, in a stately setting. Looking at the image, I half expect to see old Walt sitting in the back, taking in the show.

Aboard the Disney Wish, the Grand Hall will come to live every evening with dramatic show lighting, glittering trails of pixie dust and shimmering chandelier effects. The fairytale-inspired atrium will be the enchanted gateway to everything that awaits on board the ship: fairytale worlds, heroic challenges, epicurean indulgences, thrilling adventures, galactic encounters, peaceful escapes, and so much more. Photo courtesy Disney.

Kids will gladly encourage their parents to go have some adulting time because they get to go to the Oceaneer Club where there will be multiple activity rooms for kids ages 3-12: Fairytale Hall where they get to explore their creativity, Marvel Super Hero Academy for interactive opportunities to be the next gen Avengers; and Walt Disney Imagineering Lab for those who want to get inside the heads of the Disney folk who make all the magic happen.

Time to yourself at the spaaah?

Senses Spa offers beauty treatments with private treatment rooms, steam and aromatherapy rooms as well as a fitness facility and classes.

Disney Wish Cruise Ship staterooms for sweet dreams

Let’s start with the numbers: 1,254 rooms total. 90% have ocean views. 877 of them have a verandah (I recommend getting one of these if you can – there’s nothing like feeling the ocean breeze while you watch the moon glimmer off the water) and 451 that have connecting doors so you can sale with other family members while still having your own space. There are a couple of exclusives on the Disney Wish in terms of lodging – There will be the first-ever staterooms that are above the bridge, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the ocean and the bow (talk about a captain’s eye view!) And then there are four royal suites that accommodate up to six people. Two of these have two stories including a spiral staircase! No other ship in the Disney fleet has these. Every room will have more storage than typical – a request made by ship guests.

With an all-new look and feel steeped in enchantment and inspired by dreamy Disney stories, every stateroom on board the Disney Wish will be a luxurious, peaceful retreat designed with ample room for families, plenty of storage, and upscale amenities. Photo courtesy Disney.

This has been just a sneak peek at what you can expect from a voyage on the Disney Wish ship. For more information, visit their website. I can’t wait to see the real thing – with or without my kids! I can already tell I’m going to want (need) a voyage on Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship. I mean, after the year we’ve all had, who couldn’t use a magical escape, no matter how old you are?

— By Courtney Drake-McDonough, Publisher and Managing Editor of Real Food Traveler. 

Keep this Disney Wish Cruise Ship list handy by saving it to Pinterest. Image by Real Food Traveler.