Disney Cruise Line

In retrospect, it's a little surprising it took Disney so long to get into the cruising business. The industry seems a perfect fit for Disney's brand of entertainment, but it took a while to come to fruition.

Disney had partnered with Premier Cruise Line to provide ship-based components of combined vacation itineraries starting in the 1980s. Although Disney sold the vacation packages and provided some costumed characters for the cruises, eventually the company decided that they could create a better experience—and keep more money in-house—by establishing their own cruise line.

In 1995, Disney commissioned their first two ships, the Disney Magic and the Disney Wonder. They're sister ships, nearly identical, both designed from the keel up to present an ocean-going version of their theme parks and hotels, one where the operational areas of the ship are kept carefully hidden from guest view. The Magic was completed in 1998, with the Wonder following a year later; both ships ported at Port Canaveral, where a dedicated Disney Cruise Line terminal opened in 1997.

Also part of the Cruise Line is Castaway Cay, a 1000-acre (4 km²) island in the Bahamas once known as Gorda Cay. Disney had purchased the island in the mid-1980s (part of the 1984 film Splash was filmed there), and it turned out to be a perfect spot for large cruise ships. After making an existing natural harbor even deeper (and using the excavated sand to expand the beaches), Castaway Cay was born and incorporated into the new ships' itineraries.

After almost a decade of successful cruising, including occasional trips to the US west coast and to Europe, Disney announced plans to add two ships to the fleet. The Disney Dream and the Disney Fantasy would be about 40% larger than the Magic and the Wonder, with unique features including an enclosed overhead water coaster called the "AquaDuck". The Dream launched in January 2011, cruising from Port Canaveral. To make room for the Dream, the Disney Wonder moved to a new home at the Port of Los Angeles, from where it will sail to Mexico (with summertime cruises from Vancouver to Alaska). The Disney Fantasy was launched in 2012 and provides cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean. The Disney Wish was launched in 2022 and provides cruises to the Caribbean. Disney Cruise Line is set to receive three new ships in its fleet; the Disney Treasure is set to launch on December 21, 2024, the Disney Adventure in Spring 2025 and will be homeported at its port in Singapore, and the Disney Destiny in Fall 2025.

The Disney Magic starts cruises in the Mediterranean from Barcelona.

Whether your cruise departs from Port Canveral or from Los Angeles, Disney Cruise Line has motorcoaches that will take you from the airport or the theme park resort to the cruise terminal. In Florida, that's Orlando International Airport (MCO) and the Walt Disney World Resort; in California, you'll be coming from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and the Disneyland Resort; and in British Columbia, your only choice is Vancouver International Airport (YVR).

At the airport, just look for the blue-uniformed DCL cast members in the main airport terminal; at your Disney resort, ask about catching the bus at the front desk when you check in. Transportation is $35 one-way, or $69 round trip. The trip is about an hour (less in Vancouver), but you'll have a video to watch and the company of your fellow cruisers.

You also may have the luxury of not needing to keep track of your luggage. If you're flying from within the United States to either Orlando International or Los Angeles International, and you're going straight from the airport to the seaport, you can tag your luggage at your departure airport and not have to worry about it again until it arrives in your stateroom aboard the ship. This service is not available at Vancouver International; you'll need to claim your bags and then get them to the DCL bus. Of course, if you're flying internationally to any of the airports, you'll have to go through Customs with your luggage before handing it off to DCL.

You can, of course, also catch a bus back to the parks or the airport. You'll need to move your own luggage through Customs after debarkation, though.

The Disney Cruise Line Terminal is among the "A" Cruise Terminals, at 9155 Charles M. Rowland Drive in Port Canaveral. No matter where you're coming from, you're going to want to get onto State Route 528, the Martin Andersen Beachline Expressway (though locals may still call it "The Bee Line"). Fortunately, that's not hard; the highway runs right along the north side of the airport. Route 528 can also be reached via I-4 (exit 72), Florida's Turnpike (exit 254), and I-95 (exit 205).

The Beachline is a toll road, with three toll plazas along its length. The total toll will be $3.25 from I-4 or the turnpike, $2.50 from the airport, or free from I-95. However you get on the Beachline, take it east across the state almost to the Atlantic Ocean; you'll cross the Intracoastal Waterway, Merritt Island, and the Banana River. Take the exit for Route 401 North, then just follow the signs.

Disney Cruise Line has its own secured parking lot and garage at Port Canaveral. It is $15 per day per vehicle, including the day you return. So to calculate your parking fee, take the number of nights for your cruise, add 1, then multiply by $15. For example: A three-night cruise to the Bahamas carries a parking fee of $60, while a seven-night cruise to the Virgin Islands carries a parking fee of $120. A limited number of preferred parking spots close to the terminal entrance are also available for $25 per day.

When you enter the parking lot gate, you are given a ticket, which you do not need to leave in your vehicle. What you do with the ticket during the cruise is up to you. You can leave it in the vehicle if you wish (the lot and garage have 24-hour security with cameras), or take it with you on the ship (you can put it in the complimentary stateroom safe; see below). You pay the fee when you leave the lot after your cruise; they take cash, Visa or MasterCard. Parking fees cannot be charged to your room.

The World Cruise Center is at 600 North Harbor Boulevard (be careful: this is not the same road that forms Disneyland's eastern boundary) in San Pedro. Get on I-110 (via I-405 if you're coming from the airport) and take it south to Exit 1A; follow the signs for Harbor Boulevard, but go through the intersection and take your next right.

From Disneyland, take I-5 (it bounds Disneyland's northeast corner) north to Exit 113C to CA-91 west. Then, take Exit 12A to I-710 south, and finally take Exit 1C to reach Harbor Boulevard.

Canada Place is on the northern edge of Vancouver on the Burrard Inlet. You'll want to get on Provincial Route 99 and head north, across the Granville Bridge into the Central Business District. Hop over to Howe Street and take it all the way to the Bay, then follow the signs for the terminal.

At Castaway Cay, there is a tram service that has two different lines. One line goes from the harbor to Pelican Point, with a stop in between at Scuttle's Cove. The other line goes from Pelican Point to Serenity Bay, and requires a transfer between trams at Pelican Point.

Bicycles can be rented near the Pelican Point tram stop for US$6 per hour to get around the island. There is also a marked 5-km running course for all ages.

Each ship has three formal dining rooms where dinner is served in two shifts. Each dining room has a different theme, and a different cuisine for dinner. At least one night on each cruise recommends formal attire. At least one dining room on each ship also serves breakfast each day.

Formal dining is part of the cruise package for all guests. You only need to tip your waiters. The regular menus at the formal dining rooms provide normal and vegetarian options. Children's menus, and menus for people with special diets (like gluten-free or diabetic) are also available upon request.

One of the formal dining rooms in each of the four ships is the Animator's Palate, which celebrates the animation history of Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar. The main cuisine at this dining room is "Pacific Rim", though Dream and Fantasy mix in some American fare. It only serves dinner on all four ships.

The Magic and Wonder feature a rich multimedia experience saluting the history of Disney and Pixar animation. The Dream and Fantasy, however, feature a higher-tech interactive show, where characters interact with dining guests. There are two shows: "Animation Magic", starring Sorcerer Mickey from Fantasia; and "Undersea Magic", starring Crush from Finding Nemo.

Parrot Cay is a dining room found on the Magic and Wonder with a "Caribbean Island Grill House" theme. Serving all three meals each day, it features a lush, tropical setting.

Lumiere's is a French and American dining room exclusive to the Magic that serves all three meals. Themed on Beauty and the Beast, it has a formal setting with a touch of art deco.

Triton's has the same French and American cuisine as Lumiere's, but on the Wonder. It also serves all three meals. Themed on The Little Mermaid, with similar art deco setting motifs.

Enchanted Garden is a dining room on both the Dream and Fantasy with a Continental cuisine, serving all three meals. It has a design reminiscent of rural France.

Royal Palace (on Dream) or Royal Court (on Fantasy) is a dining room with a French and Continental cuisine, also serving all three meals. Having a more formal design on the ship, the motif is reminiscent of the ballroom scene in Cinderella, and salutes all the Disney Princesses, from Snow White to Princess Tiana.

Each ship has one or two Adult Exclusive restaurants where adults can sample a more exclusive fare than is available anywhere else on the ship. Dining at AE restaurants require advance reservations, and a $20 charge per diner. All are open for brunch and dinner. Formal attire is a requirement.

Palo is an Adult Exclusive restaurant available on all four Disney ships. The cuisine is Northern Italian, and the restaurant has a Venetian motif.

Remy is an Adult Exclusive restaurant available on the Dream and Fantasy. Themed on Ratatouille, it features French cuisine and decor for a romantic experience.

Other dining options are available throughout the day, and most food is included except in the Adult Exclusive restaurants, movie theatres and coffee shops on each ship. Each ship has a casual dining restaurant, and a buffet area.

Room service is also available 24-hours a day. While some smaller items are included, there is an extra charge for larger items, and a tip is expected regardless.

Regulations require every cruise to begin with a "muster drill". At approximately 4PM before the ship departs, the ship will sound its foghorn with the distress signal: seven blasts, followed by a longer eighth blast. Once that occurs, head to your muster station. Your room key has a single letter on it, which corresponds to your muster station. All the muster stations are on the fourth deck.

All staterooms carry life preserver jackets. You do not need to bring them to the muster drill, but cast members will demonstrate how to use them during the muster drill. When you arrive at your muster station, present your room key to be checked in, and await further instructions.

Each ship has a number of rigid lifeboats, and even more inflatable lifeboats. They are required to have enough lifeboats for all passengers and crew. The rigid lifeboats are stowed above the fourth deck.

Disney Cruise Line takes sanitation very seriously. You will be required to use antiseptic wipes on your hands before entering any area where food is handled.