Disney's first new cruise ship in a decade officially debuts today — will it live up to expectations?
It's finally go-time for the first new Disney Cruise Line ship in a decade.
After two weeks of pre-inaugural unveiling events, the 2,508-passenger Disney Wish today will sail its first voyage with paying passengers — a five-night trip out of Port Canaveral, Florida, to the Bahamas.
The inaugural sailing will bring stops at Nassau in the Bahamas and Disney’s private island oasis, Castaway Cay, as well as two sea days.
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Long awaited by Disney fans, Disney Wish is just the fifth Disney vessel to be unveiled since Disney launched its cruise division in 1998 and the first new Disney ship to debut since 2012.
At 140,000-tons, Disney Wish is only a tad bigger than Disney’s last two new ships — Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy. But it has a whole new array of Disney wow on board, from a Star Wars-themed “hyperspace lounge” that offers a “window” view of passing starships to Marvel- and “Frozen”-themed restaurants.
First looks: Disney Wish's new 'Frozen' dinner show | Disney Wish's new Marvel-themed restaurant
In addition, cabins on the ship include seven ocean-view rooms located over the bridge — a first for Disney Cruise Line. The rooms have extended living areas with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the bow and out across the ocean. If that isn’t enough, there also are four Royal Suites with a Sleeping Beauty theme — two of which feature an insane two-story floorplan.
Designed for families, Disney Wish's cabins are built with lots of extra berths for kids. While its 1,254 rooms can hold 2,508 passengers at double occupancy (the way most cruise lines measure passenger capacity), it can sail with as many as 4,000 passengers when every pull-down bunk and pull-out sofa in cabins are filled.
The top deck of Disney Wish also is particularly family friendly, with a new-for-the-line high-tech water ride called the AquaMouse. Other notable new features on Disney Wish are a reimagined Oceaneers Club (the area for kids 3 to 12 on Disney ships) where children can enter via a slide. The Oceaneers Club also offers a Marvel Super Hero Academy where kids can design (and virtually fly) in their own super suit.
Disney Wish has been one of the most-awaited new cruise vessels in years, particularly among Disney fans, and the advance buzz on the vessel is big. Can it live up to expectations?
TPG got a sneak peek at Disney Wish earlier this month when we sent a two-person team on a four-day preview cruise in advance of today's inaugural sailing. Check out our first impressions of all the ship's new features via our extensive array of first-look reviews and guides, including:
- Exclusive first look: Peek inside the new Disney Wish
- 7 things about Disney Wish that surprised us
- 9 things you'll only find on Disney Wish
- Yes, there's a $5,000 drink on Disney Wish — but it's more than a drink
- Why Disney Wish isn't just for kids
TPG also plans to send a reviewer to the ship next month for yet more first-look coverage once the vessel has a few weeks of operations under its belt.
Disney Wish is just the first of three new Triton-class ships that Disney Cruise Line will roll out over the next few years — an expansion that will nearly double the fleet's size when measured by passenger capacity.
Starting on July 19, Disney Wish will begin a year-round series of three- and four-night trips to the Bahamas out of Port Canaveral. Fares start at $771 per person, not including taxes and fees.
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