Disney bucks a big trend in family cruising by going smaller with 3 new ships
One of the dominant themes in family-friendly cruising is "bigger is better," yet one popular cruise line has chosen to buck that trend with its newest ships. Disney Cruise Line announced Friday that three of its upcoming ships will be smaller than most of the ships in its growing fleet.
The cruise line is in the midst of a growth explosion as its fleet more than triples in size from the four ships it had before the addition of Disney Wish in 2022 to the 13 ships it plans to have in its fleet by 2031. It currently sails six ships, with two more scheduled to launch this year. Disney has now revealed that three of the upcoming new ships will actually be smaller than its most recent Dream Class and Wish Class ships.
The three ships scheduled to debut in 2029, 2030 and 2031 will form yet another new class of ships and will be only 20% larger than Disney's smallest ship, Disney Magic. That vessel is Disney's original cruise ship that first set sail in 1998. Disney Magic measures around 83,000 tons and can carry up to 2,713 passengers. The new ships will be able to carry up to 3,000 guests and measure approximately 100,000 gross tons.
Related: Disney Cruise Line ships ranked from the largest to the smallest
That means this new class of ships will also be about 30% smaller by gross tonnage and 25% smaller by passenger capacity than the line's Wish Class ships. Those ships include Disney Wish, Disney Treasure and Disney Destiny, the latter of which is scheduled to set sail later this year. It was also just announced that Disney will add a fourth ship to the Wish Class in 2027. This fourth, yet-to-be-named ship, like its classmates, will measure approximately 144,000 tons and accommodate up to 4,000 passengers.
By following the Wish Class with smaller cruise ships, Disney Cruise Line is moving in a different direction than the popular, family-friendly cruise line Royal Caribbean, which is building ever-larger "resorts at sea." That line now operates the world's largest cruise ship, Icon of the Seas, which can carry over 7,000 passengers; an equally big sister ship, Star of the Seas, will set sail this summer.
You might wonder why, then, Disney is going smaller with three of its coming ships.
While only Disney can answer that question with 100% certainty, we can spot obvious benefits to sailing slightly smaller ships. As some cruise ports add limits on cruise ship capacity, both on a per-day basis and a per-ship basis, having ships with fewer passengers on board could open up itinerary options that cruise lines with larger ships wouldn't have.
“As we expand our fleet, it is important that we continue to provide a variety of experiences for our guests. Families enjoy the diversity of vacations we offer, from our classic vessels to our Wish Class ships. They also expect to explore a broad range of destinations, including those that prefer to host smaller ships,” said Thomas Mazloum, president of New Experiences Portfolio & Disney Signature Experiences, in a statement.
Additionally, as Disney doubles down on onboard experiences that only it can offer using its characters and stories (such as the Haunted Mansion Parlor bar on Disney Treasure), scaling some of those experiences to meet the requirements of megaships would present real challenges.
For example, there is only one Mickey Mouse, and he can't be in two places at once on a ship. Could Disney satisfy every guest's need for a photo and hug from their favorite character or princess with larger cruise ships and passenger counts?
It's also possible that to maintain its current higher-than-average pricing model, Disney is choosing ships with fewer cabins it can more easily sell at a premium rather than building ships with more cabins that would be harder to fill if the current high demand for cruises softens in the future.
Finally, with the line's original ships, Disney Magic and Disney Wonder, approaching 30 years of service by the time these three new ships debut, Disney might not simply introduce additional smaller ships to the fleet, but replace its current smallest ships with some that are slightly larger and can take over their itineraries.
All that said, it's not only about the smaller ships with Disney. The cruise line will take delivery of its largest ship yet, Disney Adventure, later this year.
This ship will rival Royal Caribbean's megaships, as it will hold up to 6,700 passengers. However, it is a ship built with an Asian market in mind and will be based out of Singapore. Disney purchased the ship midbuild from another cruise line.
Planning a Disney cruise? Start with these stories:
- The ultimate guide to Disney Cruise Line ships and itineraries
- Disney cruise tips, tricks, secrets and extra magic to unlock when setting sail with Mickey
- Best Disney cruise ships for everyone — even Disney adults
- The best credit cards for Disney
- Best destinations you can sail to on a Disney cruise
- Everything you need to know about Disney's loyalty program
- The 3 types of Disney Cruise Line ships, explained
- The ultimate Disney cruise packing list
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.