Ahoy Diana!
I'm so excited to hear that you're thinking about planning your first
Disney Cruise Line experience. You are correct, there are many options and experiences to choose from but don't let that deter you from making magical memories at sea. Jiminy Cricket may have famously advised to "always let your conscience be your guide," but I'm more than happy to help guide you in the right direction!
I think the easiest way to begin is by narrowing down your preferred travel dates and length of voyage. You can use the
"Find a Cruise" page drop-downs to filter options by date, departure port, destination, and even length of sailing and ship.
If you haven't cruised before a 3 or 4-night sailing is a great way to dip your toes in the water, so to speak. If you're already a pro when it comes to journeying out toward the line where the sky meets the sea you may want to opt for a 7-night sailing. I'd consider the ages of your travel party as well when making this decision. You know them best, but if you'll have younger kids in tow you may want to ease them into the experience before committing to a full week at sea.
Our family's first Disney Cruise Line sailing was a 7-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary on
Disney Fantasy. Though our kids were only 4 and 6, thankfully, they handled the week like expert sailors. Our son did encounter a slight case of motion sickness for the first time, but that was nothing a quick stop at Guest Services couldn't fix.
Depending on where you're traveling from, you may also want to consider a cruise that stops at
Disney Castaway Cay. This private island is a wonderful family oasis in the Bahamas and features a number of options for relaxation or recreation for guests of all ages. We've been lucky to visit on each of our sailings from Port Canaveral and have always enjoyed our time biking around the island or indulging in complimentary soft serve with an ocean view. At this time Disney Magic, Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, and Disney Wish all have itineraries scheduled to visit Castaway Cay in 2024. I've yet to sail on
Disney Magic but I'm eager to check out
Tangled: The Musical.
I'll admit we are also considering a 4-night Baja itinerary on Disney Wonder paired with our next visit to Disneyland Resort. I've heard rave reviews from recent guests so this may also be a great ship to consider if you'd like to embark from the west coast.
One last item to consider is whether you'd like to enjoy any
Adult Exclusive dining experiences. My husband and I have been able to dine at
Remy available on both Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream as well as
Enchanté by Chef Arnaud Lallement on Disney Wish. Both meals rank in the top 5 we've ever had, so if you're looking for a culinary cabaret I'd strongly consider these ships.
If you're still not sure where to begin you can
speak with a Cast Member by phone to discuss your options or feel free to come back here with more specific questions. We have a team of panelists with a variety of experiences that would be happy to help.
Anchors aweigh!
Amy