Disney Wish cruise ship: what you need to know

(Updated 5/14/21 with pricing information) All about the Disney Wish cruise ship:

Disney Cruise Lines has made one of their biggest announcements in years, and that is the introduction of their newest vessel, the Disney Wish cruise ship. Some details have been announced which I am going to share here, and I will update this post as we receive more information. The ship looks amazing – even better than the previous ships – and I can’t wait to be on it!

Basics about the Disney Wish cruise ship

How big is the Disney Wish?

In terms of size, the Disney Wish cruise ship is 341 meters long and weighs around 144,000 gross tons. It has 15 decks. For comparison, the Disney Dream is 339 meters long, weighs about 130,000 gross tons, and has 14 decks. The Disney Magic is 300 meters long, weighs 84,000 gross tons, and has 11 decks.

The ship will hold a maximum of 4,000 passengers plus crew. This is about the same as the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy. The older class of ships, the Magic and the Wonder, hold around 2700 passengers.

What will the Disney Wish look like?

The Disney Wish is a beautiful cruise ship which captures the elegance of being at sea along with the magic of Disney films. The outside of the ship looks very much like their previous ships. Each ship has a different character on the front, with Rapunzel on the Disney Wish.

Once you enter the Grand Hall there are three decks with hints of Cinderella, including a statue of Cinderella herself. There is also more entertainment being incorporated throughout, with a small venue and character experiences right in the Grand Hall.

Different spaces have various themes or tell different stories with Disney touches, such as Star Wars, Frozen, Marvel, favorite princesses, and more.

Itineraries

Where will the Disney Wish sail?

As of right now, the Disney Wish is almost entirely scheduled to do 3 and 4 night Bahamian Cruises from Port Canaveral with stops in Nassau and Castaway Cay (Disney’s private island). This is basically identical to the previous itineraries there which was usually done on the Disney Dream.

The maiden voyage of the Disney Wish

The first sailing of the Disney Wish will happen on June 9, 2022. This will be a special 5 night sailing from Port Canaveral to Nassau and Castaway Cay.

If you’re interested in booking the maiden voyage you should be aware of a few special rules about these reservations. Unlike most Disney Cruise Line bookings, the deposit of 20% is nonrefundable. Final payment is due for concierge rooms and suites 150 days prior to setting sail; final payment for all other stateroom types is due 120 days prior to setting sail. A 50% cancellation fee applies from 44 to 30 days prior to setting sail. A 75% cancellation fee applies from 29 to 15 days prior to setting sail. A 100% cancellation fee applies from 14 days to the date of setting sail. Booking cannot be combined with any other offers, discounts or future cruise credits.

Disney Wish 2022 itineraries

Starting on June 17, 2022, the Disney Wish will be performing 3 and 4 night Bahamian cruises. 4 night sailings typically occur Monday-Friday, and 3 nights are Friday-Monday. This is the schedule for the Disney Wish from June through the end of September, which is when booking is currently open. It seems likely that they will continue with these itineraries at least through all of 2022 and the first portion of 2023.

Planning and booking the Disney Wish

Booking

Can you book the Disney Wish now?

Booking for the Disney Wish has currently not yet opened, but will be available for the general public starting on May 27, 2021. If you have done a Disney cruise in the past and you are a Castaway Club member, you may be able to book earlier:

How can you book?

If you are booking early, the chart above shows whether you can book online or if you must call. After these dates the Disney Wish can be booked online, by calling Disney Cruise Line, or contacting your travel agent.

Using a travel agent

It may be advantageous to use a travel agent to book your Disney Cruise, especially the Wish. A travel agent can help you stay on top of any changes that may occur, keep you informed of everything you need to know, and will help with changes or other aspects of planning your vacation. 

Here are a couple of advantages of using a travel agent:

• Can provide extremely valuable information about the ship, destinations, making reservations for dining and activities, etc.
• Keeps track of important information like when you can book shore excursions, when final payment is due, and reminds you
• Will be able to make any changes or adjustments for you
• Can save you hours of time on hold waiting to get through to Disney (calling is often necessary for certain changes or aspects of booking)
• Many offer a free on board credit when you book, which you can spend on the ship on drinks, paid activities, or anything else (as a travel agent this is something I offer)
• They can answer any questions you might have!

If you’d like to book the Disney Wish using me as your travel agent, just fill out this interest form or send me an email. I spend a lot of time researching and staying up to date on all things Disney so I’d be happy to help you plan your vacation on board the Disney Wish cruise ship. Once you book I’d love to help you with anything related to the trip or answer any questions you might have – if the answer is available I’ll either know it or have the resources to find out for you! The only thing I can’t do is read Disney’s mind and tell you things they don’t even know yet 😉

Top tip to begin planning your Disney Wish cruise

My top tip about planning your trip on the Disney Wish cruise ship is similar to my tip for booking a Disney World vacation: book early. Book as soon as possible.

Especially with the Wish being new staterooms will go quickly. There are more verandahs than any other room so if you’re hoping to save money with an inside stateroom or oceanview act fast or they may be gone.

At the time of booking a deposit of 20% is due and the remainder is not due until 75 days before your sailing. If you choose to cancel you can get a full refund of the deposit or any payments made up until that 75 day mark. I’d book now and plan ahead for the best options.

Staterooms on the Disney Wish

The staterooms on the Disney Wish have been completely redesigned. Instead of the more traditional nautical appearance you’ll see on the other ships, these staterooms are inspired by the Disney films themselves. Beautiful touches from the films will appear in each stateroom, including artwork and subtle decor inspired by Tangled, Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, and more. The rooms are elegant, light, and bright. It’s the perfect fusion of subtle beauty and Disney magic.

All staterooms have queen size beds (Concierge rooms have king size beds) as well as pull-down/fold out beds. There is a split bathroom set-up in most staterooms (excluding inside staterooms) and bathtubs in all bathrooms.

Rooms with connecting doors are available for larger families or those who want two rooms (902 connecting staterooms are available, for 451 pairs of rooms).

If you need an accessibility room, these are also available and they include rooms for mobility and communication, communication only, roll-in shower, extra large room for maneuverability.

Inside staterooms

There are 121 inside staterooms on the Disney Wish. These are the most affordable option for families but as they only make up 10% of the rooms they can go quickly. Inside staterooms can sleep 3 or 4 people. Inside staterooms do not contain any sort of window.

Oceanview staterooms

The Wish will contain 170 oceanview staterooms. Oceanview staterooms have a porthole window. They can typically sleep up to 4 people, though under this category you can also book a “deluxe family oceanview stateroom” which sleeps up to 5 guests.

Verandah staterooms

The Disney Wish contains a huge amount of rooms with verandahs (Disney’s term for a balcony room), with 877 rooms being under this category (that’s 70% of rooms). These rooms all have private balconies with an oceanview and can sleep up to 4 with the option of a deluxe family Verandah room that sleeps up to 5.

Concierge staterooms

If you’d like concierge service on your cruise you can book 76 different rooms that fall under this category, including oceanview rooms, verandah rooms, suites, and more. 

Concierge guests get a variety of benefits, including:

• Higher quality bedding and a selection of pillows
• Free wifi for length of cruise
• A dedicated Concierge Services Specialist – this person can help you with dining reservations, port adventures, and any other special requests
• Private welcome reception
• The option for in-suite dining
• Exclusive access to the Concierge lounge
• Enjoy a private sun deck just for concierge guests which has a small pool, 2 hot tubs, a full bar, and lounge chairs

This category also includes a number of 1 and 2 bedroom suites, including a new 2 story Royal Suite. These Royal Suites can sleep up to 6 guests.

Dining on the Disney Wish

Main Dining rooms

There are 3 main dining rooms on rotation. These restaurants are included with your cruise fare and are family friendly dining. At time of booking you can select early or late dining (depending on availability). You are then assigned a dining rotation where you will be told which of the three restaurants you will be eating in that night. You will hit all 3 of them, and on 4 night cruises will repeat one. Your servers travel with you from restaurant to restaurant, so while you may change locations your waiter and other dining staff will always be there!

Arandelle – A “Frozen” Dining Adventure: Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf will appear for some Frozen fun while you dine on Norwegian inspired cuisine.

World of Marvel: This superhero inspired restaurant is said to be interactive, includes a “cinematic dining experience,” and various technology. The menu will feature food from around the world.

1923: This restaurant is inspired by old Hollywood, the original Disney Studios, and Walt himself. The menu will include California inspired flavors.

Adult only dining

These more upscale dining locations are for adults only. They require reservations and cost an extra fee.

Palo Steakhouse: A popular restaurant on other Disney cruises, Palo gets a makeover on the Disney Wish with a subtle, beautiful Beauty and the Beast theme inspired by Cogsworth. The menu will include a variety of steaks and Italian dining.

Enchante: New for the Disney Wish, Enchante is another Beauty and the Beast inspired upscale restaurant serving international cuisine with a menu created by a 3 star Michelin chef.

Other dining locations

So far we have not received details about other dining locations on board the Disney Wish cruise ship, but we can expect to see many other options as well. Based on what we’ve seen on other Disney ships there will probably be some sort of buffet or quick option, an ice cream location, a few other quick service options (think pizza, burgers, etc.) and a lounge or two which might serve food. Disney has teased that the pool area will have “a fresh take on quick and casual fare with a festive character twist.” And of course included room service!

Activities on the Disney Wish

Aquamouse

The exciting on board water slide got even better on the Disney Wish. The Aquamouse is now considered a full-scale Disney attraction, the first Disney attraction at sea. It features a whole water experience and incorporates the use of screens, new technology, other special effects, and of course the water slide!

Disney has now shared additional details about the Aquamouse, including some story elements and how it works. The ride vehicles are two seaters and the slide goes through tunnels and passes by port holes that play animations of Mickey and Minnie. There are “over 60 different water effects on the attraction.”

Stage shows at the Walt Disney Theatre

Disney Cruise Line is known for top-notch entertainment using favorite Disney characters and songs. A new version of the Aladdin musical stage show will be shown on the Wish, as well as two other new shows that have yet to be announced.

Fun for the Whole Family

• Luna: This is where you’ll head for all sorts of fun family activities and shows throughout the day, including comedy acts, game shows, and more!
• Hero Zone: called an “innovative recreation space” by Disney, the Hero Zone will have hands-on physical activities to take part in and will include a playground, sports court, movie theater, and more.
• Pools: there will be a number of pools and water play areas around the ship, including Toy Story Splash Zone. More family friendly pools will be on this ship than ever before, with decks 11 and 12 containing six pools of different sizes and depths.

Kids’ Clubs

Oceaneer Club 
Ages 3-12 
Kids in this age range can join the Oceaneer Club with a variety of fun activities for all ages, including a Marvel Superhero training academy, Walt Disney Imagineering Lab, and Fairy Tale Hall. Plus, the Wish has a secret entrance to this kids’ club – find the hidden door in the atrium and slide on down!

Edge
Ages 11-14 
This age group will be able to hang out in a New York City inspired loft setting with activities designed especially for them.

Vibe
Ages 14-17 
Teens have a retro place to hang out and relax with other teens their age.

It’s a Small World Nursery
Ages 6 months to 3
The youngest travelers can play or relax with trained counselors to give the adults in the group a little time away.

Adults only spaces

Star Wars: Hyperspace Lounge: Disney cruise ships usually include at least a few themed bars and lounges, but one that has been announced is truly out of this world. The Hyperspace Lounge has “views” of locations from the films and signature drinks inspired by the Star Wars movies. Families can visit during the day but it becomes adults only at night.

Quiet Cove: An adults only pool is located on Disney Wish, where you’ll find an infinity pool, two hot tubs, and a bar – no kids allowed.

Cove Cafe: If you need that specialty coffee in the morning head to the Cove Cafe for a variety of signature lattes, coffees, teas, and more. This location has been slightly rethemed for the Wish with subtle hints of Moana.

Other pools, locations, and more

There is more that has not yet been announced! Many of these things may be similar to existing ships – maybe with slight changes or re-themeing. For example, I’m sure we will see a spa and fitness center, though we haven’t heard details about them yet. There will probably be a variety of other lounges and special events or activities like deck parties or character meet and greets.

Pricing of the Disney Wish cruise ship

Currently unknown

Pricing for the Disney Wish has not yet been released. We should first get a peek at this on May 17, when platinum guests with 25 or more sailings can begin booking. However, price and availability may very well change once booking is available to the general public so until we hit May 27th I’d take everything with a grain of salt.

Will the Disney Wish be more expensive than other ships?

The simple answer is yes. I have no doubt this ship will be more expensive than most other Disney cruises and many other cruise lines. There are a few reasons for this:

• It’s new and will be the nicest ship in the fleet with exciting and unique experiences
• There are more verandah rooms than inside staterooms or oceanview staterooms by a large margin (verandah rooms are 70% of the staterooms on board) and these rooms are more expensive. The more affordable options will be harder to book and go quickly.
• As of right now the Wish is only available for sailings in June-September 2022 and summer is usually the most expensive time to cruise.
• I’m seeing HUGE demand for the ship from Disney fans, including many who don’t usually cruise but are very interested in the experiences the Wish has to offer.

How can I get the cheapest price on the Disney Wish?

If you’re looking to make the trip as affordable as possible there are a few things to consider which might help.

Room Type. Inside staterooms are going to be cheapest, but there’s not many of these on the Disney Wish.

Itinerary. Right now the Wish is only doing Bahamian cruises, but you can opt for a cheaper 3 night cruise over the 4 night.

Time of year. Summer and holidays are most expensive. If you go during an off time you’ll save some money. September/October are often more affordable but you also risk hurricane season.

Number of people. Cruises charge per person. If you have more than 2 people in the room the 3rd and 4th guests are typically discounted but you are still paying more for more people. Just something to keep in mind as you plan.

Pricing for the Disney Wish

As of May 14, 2021, Disney has released “starting from” prices for the Disney Wish itineraries. These prices are based on 2 adults and will apply to the lowest cost stateroom in each category.

I had previously made some predictions here about what I expected for pricing and it’s pretty spot on to what I was expecting. The Wish is more expensive than the other ships and July is by far the most expensive month.

Disney Wish June 2022 pricing

Below you’ll find some of the starting prices on the Disney Wish for their June sailings. The first image is the 3 night sailings and the second is the 4 night sailings. These are not all of the sailings but a sampling of them. Keep in mind these prices are starting prices and are for 2 adults.

Disney Wish July 2022 pricing

Below you’ll find some of the starting prices on the Disney Wish for their July sailings. This is the most expensive month to cruise. The first image is the 3 night sailings and the second is the 4 night sailings. These are not all of the sailings but a sampling of them. Keep in mind these prices are starting prices and are for 2 adults.

Disney Wish August 2022 pricing

Below you’ll find some of the starting prices on the Disney Wish for their August sailings. The first image is the 3 night sailings and the second is the 4 night sailings. These are not all of the sailings but a sampling of them. Keep in mind these prices are starting prices and are for 2 adults.

Disney Wish September 2022 pricing

Below you’ll find some of the starting prices on the Disney Wish for their September sailings. The first image is the 3 night sailings and the second is the 4 night sailings. These are not all of the sailings but a sampling of them. Keep in mind these prices are starting prices and are for 2 adults.

Disney Wish maiden voyage pricing

Below you’ll find some of the starting prices on the Disney Wish for their maiden voyage on June 9, 2022. Keep in mind these prices are starting prices and are for 2 adults.

A look at some pricing predictions:

A family of 4 on the Disney Dream doing a 3 night Bahamas cruise would be looking at about $3700 for an inside stateroom and $3900 for a verandah at the end of May.
Becky’s prediction: I’d wager that a family of 4 on the Disney Wish doing a 3 night Bahamas cruise could easily be looking at $4500 for an inside room and $5500 for a verandah (more in July).

A family of 4 on the Disney Dream doing a 4 night Bahamas cruise would be looking at about $5000 for an inside stateroom and $5500 for a verandah at the end of May.
Becky’s prediction: I’d wager that a family of 4 on the Disney Wish doing a 4 night Bahamas cruise could easily be looking at $6000 for an inside room and at least $6500 for a verandah (more in July).

Becky’s prediction: I’d wager that a couple (2 people) on the Disney Wish doing a 3 night Bahamas cruise could easily be looking at $3000 for an inside room and $3500 for a verandah (more in July).
Outcome: I wasn’t too far off – most of the inside staterooms are starting at around $2800-3000 for 2 people on a 3 night cruise, hitting highs of $4000 in July and lows of $1900 in September. Verandahs aren’t too much more, hovering around $300 more than an inside stateroom.

Becky’s prediction: I’d wager that a couple on the Disney Wish doing a 4 night Bahamas cruise could easily be looking at $4000 for an inside room and at least $4500 for a verandah (more in July).
Outcome: Again fairly accurate with the inside staterooms, seeing them hitting around $4000 in June and July before dropping to $3500 or even $2100 throughout August and September. Verandahs are around $300-400 more.

If you’re looking at July, expect prices to be even higher. It’s not unusual in the past to see staterooms for a family of 4 in July starting at $6000 for an inside stateroom on a 4 night cruise. I’m pretty positive the Disney Wish pricing will be higher. You can see above that a verandah room in July for 2 guests is around $4300, so a family will probably be in the $6000-7000 range.

Book your vacation on the Disney Wish cruise ship

The key to booking the Disney Wish is going to be to plan early! Contact me today if you’d like help planning your Disney cruise vacation or fill out this interest form for the Disney Wish.

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