By Jim Madison
The Disney Wish, the fifth ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet, is simply spectacular. From the moment guests step on board and enter the Grand Hall with its bright, airy and elegant space, it is abundantly clear, this ship is pure “Disney Magic”.
On June 29, 2022, media members, their friends and families set sail on the Wish for a 4 day, 3 night cruise that included a visit to Castaway Cay, Disney’s private tropical Island reserved exclusively for Disney Cruise Line guests, and a day at sea.
Prior to the cruise, a christening ceremony was held. Disney Cruise Line honored Make-A-Wish children past, present and future in the prestigious role of godchildren for the Disney Wish, redefining the longstanding maritime tradition of appointing a ship “godmother.” Three ambassadors — Colby, 10; Megan, 16; and Jenna, 12 — represented all Disney Wish godchildren and recited a time-honored blessing of the ship, which symbolically bestows good fortune on the vessel and its travelers.
“The Disney Wish embodies the incredible magic that only Disney can deliver,” said Bob Chapek, chief executive officer, The Walt Disney Company. “It celebrates nearly 100 years of Disney storytelling excellence, bringing fantastic worlds and beloved characters to life like never before through innovative technology and new approaches. Every element of the Disney Wish reflects our relentless focus on our guests, and everything they love about Disney.”
The newest Disney Cruise Line ship is infused with more storytelling than ever before and filled with one-of-a-kind entertainment and innovative “firsts”. These include the first Disney attraction at sea, family dining adventures themed to “Frozen” and Marvel, an immersive tour of the Star Wars galaxy, interactive virtual quests that unlock hidden magic around every corner, original Broadway-style stage productions, signature fireworks at sea, imaginative clubs for kids of all ages, and an expanded collection of experiences exclusively for adults.
Combining imagination, technology and the magic of a wishing star, Disney Uncharted Adventure is a multidimensional voyage into the worlds of iconic Disney and Pixar characters. Designed for families to play together.
Speaking to guests onboard, many of whom seemed stunned what they say was the amount of detail in the decor, the excellent room service. “They were all so nice“ remarked Ilka Rogers, a videographer and editor from the Bahamas. The staff was so warm and friendly.” To which another guest replied, “Isn’t that what Disney is known for.”
Prior to boarding, Disney Cruise Line, DCL recommends guests download the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App. The latest version of the app can be downloaded on a mobile device, with location services and notifications enabled. This will allow guest to access helpful features such as: Guest Services Live Chat: Communicate directly with a Guest Services Crew Member—in addition to Dining and Port Adventures teams; view digital menus, activity schedules, venue descriptions and locations, and more.
Moreover, Using the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app — and with some help from their guides, Captain Minnie Mouse and Mickey Mouse — guests sailing on the Disney Wish transform their mobile devices into an enchanted spyglass, allowing them to magically set sail for the worlds of Moana, Tiana, Peter Pan, Nemo and more.
“A magical experience that lives up to the Disney tradition of excellent guest service,” stated Tamara Sheppard from Orlando. Her 18-year-old son Christopher agreed. “There are activities for all ages” he said, “and the trip to Castaway Cay was a highlight of the cruise.”
With the debut of three brand-new family restaurants, the Disney Wish takes guests on an unparalleled culinary journey to an enchanted “Frozen” kingdom, an Avengers technology showcase and the golden age of Hollywood. Guests will dine in a different venue each evening, accompanied by their same serving team.
“Sharing a delicious meal together is n important part of family life, and we love finding surprising new ways to show our guests a magical time as they dine on each of our ships,” said Ozer Balli, vice president, hotel operations, DisneyCruise Line.
From theatrical entertainment to cinematic adventure to sophisticated elegance, dinner aboard the Disney Wish is so much more than a meal — it’s a chance to interact with favorite Disney stories in exciting new ways only Disney Cruise Line can cook up.
Only on the Disney Wish are families invited to attend a royal engagement party for Queen Anna and Kristoff, picking up the story where Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Frozen 2” left off. Elsa and Olaf host the celebration with catering provided by their friend Oaken’s “Hearty Party Planning Service… and Sauna” and live entertainment by “local” musicians who specialize in Nordic renditions of familiar “Frozen” songs.
“With our signature attention to detail, Disney Cruise Line staterooms have always set the standard for family cruise travel,” said Claire Weiss, creative director, Walt Disney Imagineering. “All of our ships offer spacious, comfortable and functional rooms that uniquely meet the needs of families. On the Disney Wish, we are elevating this approach with a new level of storytelling and artful design infused with the theme of enchantment that brings to life cherished Disney fairytales.”
Every stateroom aboard the Disney Wish provides ample room for families, plenty of storage space and upscale amenities. Most of the ship’s 1,254 staterooms offer an ocean view — including 877 with a spacious verandah — and 451 connecting doors between staterooms to accommodate larger families. Some connecting staterooms have a partition between verandahs that may be opened to create a bigger, shared balcony.
Most staterooms feature Disney Cruise Line’s signature split-bathroom concept, with a sink and shower in one room and a sink and toilet in a separate room. All include a bathtub — perfect for giving children a bath.
Enhanced storage options, roomy closets and elevated bed frames with generous under-bed space provide plenty of places to store suitcases and other bulky items essential for family travel.
Other amenities and highlights include a 43-inch TV, USB and USB-C ports, large vanity, mini- drawer refrigerator, full-length mirror, mini-safe, hair dryer, privacy divider, queen and pull-out sofa beds, deluxe toiletries, plush robes, and lavish bed linens and duvets.
The Disney Wish elevates the concierge experience with 76 concierge staterooms and suites — more than double the number available on other Disney ships.
Accommodating up to five guests, these rooms feature spacious living areas, king beds, luxurious finishes and premium amenities. Most include a generous private verandah.
Disney Cruise Line takes fun to the next level on the Disney Wish with the debut of AquaMouse, a brand-new family water attraction that will bring to life the adventures of “The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse” animated shorts like never before.
“Disney Cruise Line has pioneered many industry firsts through the years, including the first onboard water coaster and the first and only fireworks at sea,” said Danny Handke, senior creative director, Walt Disney Imagineering. “For the Disney Wish, we wanted to continue that tradition of innovation in a big way. With AquaMouse, we’re combining theme park thrills, iconic Disney animation and the magic of ocean cruising to create a one-of-a-kind water attraction unlike anything we’ve done before.”
This first-of-its-kind water ride sends guests on a fun family adventure through 760 feet of winding tubes suspended high above the upper decks.
Setting sail in summer 2022, the Disney Wish is the fifth ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet, joining the Disney Magic (maiden voyage in 1998), the Disney Wonder (maiden voyage in 1999), the Disney Dream (maiden voyage in 2011) and the Disney Fantasy (maiden voyage in 2012).
The Wish has 1,254 staterooms, including 76 concierge statesrooms. 1,133 of the staterooms are outside staterooms, 948 of which feature private verandas.
The Home Port is Port Canaveral, Florida with Ship’s Registry, Bahamas.
Gross tonnage is approximately 144,000 tons (confirmed at delivery).
The ship is 1,119 feet in length and 221 feet in height.
The ship’s capacity is 4,000 passengers with a crew of 1,555.
The Disney Wish sails its maiden voyage on July 14, followed by three- and four-night cruises to Nassau, Bahamas, and Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay, from Port Canaveral, Florida.
To learn more about the Disney Wish or to book a vacation, guests can visit disneycruise.com, call Disney Cruise Line at 888-325-2500 or contact their travel agent.
