Cruise Line Monday brings us Disney Cruise Line! Here is a bit of its origin and history before we dive into the various classes of ships!
From 1985 to 1993, Walt Disney World partnered with Premier Cruise Line giving them permission to have Disney characters on their ships and offer combined vacation packages. When that relationship ended, Disney approached both Royal Caribbean and Carnival to replace Premier as their partner.
When Disney could not reach an agreement with neither Royal Caribbean nor Carnival, it decided to start their own cruise line operations. In 1995, Disney Cruise Line entered into an agreement with Fincantieri in Italy for two Magic Class sister ships–Disney Magic and Disney Wonder.
Disney Cruise Line was finally incorporated in 1996 as Magical Cruise Company Limited–a subsidiary of Walt Disney World. Headquartered in Celebration, Florida, Disney Cruise Line currently operates six ships–Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, Disney Wish and Disney Treasure. Disney Destiny will join the fleet in November 2025, and Disney Adventure will arrive in 2026.
Disney Magic’s first voyage embarked on July 30, 1998, making Disney Cruise Line officially operational. Disney Wonder followed in 1999 with her inaugural cruise. Both ships sailed from Port Canaveral. In 2005, Disney Magic moved to Los Angeles for the summer. The move coincided with Disneyland’s 50th anniversary and it allowed the cruise line to test the West Coast market. It was successful. In 2007, Disney Magic began sailing in the Mediterranean nad currently both Magic Class ships sail from multiple ports throughout the year.
Also in 2007, Disney Cruise Line announced two new Dream Class ships were on the horizon. Disney Dream began sailing in 2011 from Port Everglades, and Disney Fantasy sailed from Port Canaveral in 2012. These ships were built at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany.
No new ships were introduced until Disney Wish joined the fleet in 2022. A second Wish Class ship, Disney Treasure began sailing in 2024. Both ships were built at the Meyer Werft Shipyard in Papenburg, Germany and homeport at Port Canaveral. A third Wish Class ship, Disney Destiny, will begin sailing in November 2025 from Port Everglades.
Additionally, in 2022, Disney Cruise Line acquired the Global Class Global Dream from Genting Hong Kong. Disney Cruise Line renamed the ship Disney Adventure and worked with the Meyer Werft shipyard to complete the ship. When she debuts in March 2026, she will homeport in Singapore and will be the first Disney ship to be based outside the United States. She will also be the largest ship in the Disney fleet.
Disney Cruise Line has five more ships on order with the Meyer Werft shipyard to debut between 2027 and 2031 bringing its fleet of ships to thirteen. The ships are easily identifiable by their elongated dark blue hulls, red funnels and elaborate yellow insignia.