disney wonder cruise australia reviews

What to expect on a Disney Wonder cruise in Australia

No one warned me about the affliction that would strike me when we boarded our Disney Wonder cruise in Australia. There wasn’t any word on social media, in the mainstream media, or in reviews. It started innocently enough on day one with the simple humming of  ‘Whistle While You Work’, but it wasn’t long before I had a bad case of Disney earworm-itis and couldn’t stop smiling.

And it got more severe by the minute. There was nowhere to hide; it was all through the ship. Then my wife and 20-year-old son caught it as well. Once we were onboard the Disney Wonder cruise ship in Australia, we couldn’t ‘Let it Go’ and were powerless to resist the Disney magic.

Was it brought on by our favourite Disney tunes playing throughout the ship?  Or the other passengers decked out in all manner of Disney merch, from t-shirts and princess dresses to an amazing assortment of Mickey Ears? No, I think it started the minute we walked onto the ship.

Boarding Disney Wonder in Brisbane seemed like a regular embarkation until we got onboard and entered the central atrium to the sound of applause and a grand announcement:

“Please welcome the Templeman family!”

Goofy was waving at us from the stairs, crew members (who are called cast members, the same as at the parks) were beaming at us and ready to help with directions to the nearest restaurant for lunch. Everyone got this special treatment and grand welcome when they boarded. It may sound a little cheesy but it genuinely made us feel special and (even more) excited about the cruise.

It had been years since we’d been to Disney World in Orlando which meant our son was now an adult, but we could feel the wonder of Disney Wonder winning us over from the moment we got onboard. If this was a ‘standard’ Disney Cruise welcome they had us at ‘hello’!

Disney Wonder cabins

So, let’s start with ‘The Bare Necessities’ on Disney Wonder in Australia. Firstly, Disney Wonder is considered a mid-sized cruise ship with 875 staterooms designed with families in mind. Disney Wonder cabins come in multiple configurations that cater to up to seven passengers per room in a suite and five in a Navigator Cove Balcony Cabin.

All of the other cabins on board, like our veranda stateroom, cater for four passengers and have a unique split shower/toilet area with the toilet and a vanity basin in a separate room. There’s also a thick curtain that divides the bedroom/lounge to allow for extra privacy, a bonus whether you’re travelling with little kids or a big one like we were.

We have been cruising as a family since our son was three and we all agreed that this was the best and most practical cabin we had sailed in. When our son was little, we used to have trouble getting him to go to sleep in a shared cabin. Now that he’s an adult, he stays up much later than his parents so the curtain came in handy. Having a toilet with a sink in a separate room meant the logistics of sharing a room were much better as we had different spaces to get ready, brush our teeth, etc. The cabin was also very spacious compared to others we’ve been in.

One thing worth noting if you’re a light sleeper; we were in a (locked off) interconnecting cabin and did have additional noise seeping through the door. This didn’t bother us, but you may like to avoid these cabins if you are sensitive to noise or like to sleep in. Interconnecting cabins have this issue on every ship, of course, but being a Disney cruise, your odds of having excited little ones next door like we did is higher.

Disney Wonder deck plan

The Disney Wonder deck plan is laid out over 11 beautiful Art Nouveau decks with six cabin decks and five mixed-use decks consisting of bars, restaurants, lounges and pools. The best cabins are midship away from theatres and the pool deck. We found it easy to get around Disney Wonder, with good passenger flow and a sensible layout. It’s one of the few ships that we haven’t got hopelessly lost on during our first day onboard.

Disney Wonder free activities

Something that is really important on a Disney cruise is to ‘Be Prepared’. There are some fantastic free special activities on Disney Wonder that you can do if you know about them, but you need to book these in advance, ideally before you get onboard. An example of this is the Royal Gathering which we did and really enjoyed. All of the princesses gather in the atrium and at your allocated time, you can go and have your photo taken with ALL of them, one after the other.

There were a few things we particularly loved about this experience. Firstly, it was complimentary (great news for Aussies as the Disney Wonder onboard currency is US dollars which can be tough due to the poor exchange rate). We also loved the fact you didn’t have to stand around. Instead, you could turn up at your allocated time which meant less waiting for kids (and their parents). We thought it would feel like a production line but the princesses spent time interacting with guests and making everyone feel special when it was their turn.

Disney Wonder paid activities

There are some additional paid experiences available like Princess and Pirate makeovers in the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique and the Royal Court Royal Tea Party. We didn’t do any of these as they were geared to families travelling with younger children. These did look like fun but there are plenty of free character and other moments that can be enjoyed without paying extra if you’re watching your pennies onboard.

Princess meet and greets on Disney Wonder

It turns out meeting a genuine Disney princess is quite an experience. Firstly, they are completely in character and chat about where they live and what they like to do with their time and ask how you are doing as well. When I met my favourite princess and namesake, Princess Tiana, she remembered I had dined at her restaurant the night before and asked if I had enjoyed my meal there. And our sophisticated 20 year old couldn’t help blushing when he met his favourite Disney princess, Rapunzel. He was blown away by how friendly she was and how she was so perfectly in character the whole time.

We had never done meet and greets at any of the Disney Parks as the lines could be long but there are loads of opportunities to meet characters on Disney Wonder, whether you go to the Royal Gathering or line up for a meet and greet with one of the princesses or characters at another time. Some Disney regulars told us that it was so quick and easy meeting the princesses on the ship, compared to some of the Disney parks they had been to. It’s also a lot more comfortable as the ship is airconditioned (I bet the princesses like this too).

Disney Wonder kids clubs

For this kids club round up, I will jump straight to the place onboard with the least availability: ‘It’s a small world’. Yes, that’s the real name of the nursery, and it only has 16 places per day, so book early for this if you’re travelling with children aged six months to three years who would like to go here. The nursery costs US$9 per hour due to the high staff to children ratio; all of the other kids clubs are complimentary.

Exploring Disney Wonder opens ‘A Whole New World’ with dedicated children’s areas that really do need to be seen to be believed. Even though our son is now way too old for the kid’s clubs, we went to an open house to take a look around as we had heard the Disney Cruise kid’s clubs were epic – and they were!  Even better, they can cater to as many children as there are onboard the ship on each cruise, so no children are turned away due to the kid’s club being full. Something that has happened to our son a few times on other lines (yes, there were tears – from him and also from his parents!).

The huge Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab caters for children aged 3 to 12 years in a combined space so siblings can stay together. Tweens aged 11 to 14 can head to Edge, while the exclusive Vibe space is tucked away at the top of a set of stairs  and is exclusively for 14 to 17 year olds. Kids aged under 12 are fitted with a Disney Oceaneer Band which acts as a stateroom key and helps you and the kids club staff keep track of them onboard.

Disney Wonder for adults

While Disney Wonder has some fantastic kids facilities, over-18s like our family are far from ‘Poor Unfortunate Souls’ as there are multiple adult-only areas as well. Let’s start with the Quiet Cove pool and Signals bar area on deck nine. This area is a delight with a large pool, two hot tubs, a dedicated bar, and plenty of staff to take your drink orders if you’re feeling thirsty. We enjoyed hanging out here. Our family of adults also discovered it’s a great place to bring your lunch from the buffet or pool deck eating spots with plenty of seating and a nice outdoor atmosphere.

You’ll also find the best place for coffee here at Cove Café.  Ask the staff for a free coffee card as you get a free coffee after you’ve collected five stamps. There is also an adults-only specialty restaurant called Palo which offers modern Italian cuisine with ocean views and romance. It is open for brunch on sea days and also dinner if you feel like a treat.

Our favourite adult’s only spot on board would have to be the Cadillac Lounge. This retro-designed Art Nouveau bar is all about class and style with lots of leather and chrome. In the evening, it comes alive with piano tunes by talented performers that will keep you up past your bedtime. A big shout out goes to Wil, the pianist on our cruise, for making our sailing so memorable. He was a hit with our entire family and we all loved being able to ask for our favourite songs.

The other bars onboard include the Crown & Fin Pub, which resembles a traditional British tavern but wasn’t really our scene. Azure, an adults-only hotspot after hours that’s inspired by the sea’s shapes, colours, sounds and movements and lucky last, the French Quarter Lounge, a New Orleans-inspired bar where guests can kick back with unique cocktails and a live jazz trio. There’s great people watching to be had from this bar which was our second favourite spot for an after-dinner drink.

Disney Wonder dining

The other essential things to pre-book are your dining times, as all dining apart from the specialty restaurant, Palo, is set time dining at 5.45 or 8.15 to cater to the theatre show times. So, think about your best dining times for you and your family and pre-book your preferred option.

We haven’t done traditional set time dining for years and usually actively avoid it but it works on this cruise as you rotate through the restaurants on a set schedule with your same waiters each night two of the three restaurants have entertainment which means you need to eat at a set time. We did struggle with eating so early at the beginning of the cruise (8.15 was too late for us, but 5.45 felt way too early) but we got used to it and loved having the same waitstaff each night. They were fantastic and made us understand why some cruisers always opt for set dining.

On our first night, we were looking forward to ‘Going Down the Bayou’ for dinner at Tiana’s Place, a restaurant which had live music and plenty of Southern charm. There was also a trumpet-playing alligator called Louis (one of my favourite Disney characters) who led a street party celebration and conga line with Princess Tiana and a crew of entertainers through the restaurant.

We especially loved the food at Triton’s (don’t miss the lamb!), where you dine ‘Under The Sea’ at a restaurant that feels more like a specialty dining experience than a main dining room. It is loosely themed on The Little Mermaid and has an upmarket vibe.

On our last night, we dined at the Animator’s Palate, which features animation-adorned walls and large high-definition flat-screens to project some animation magic that you create yourself. I won’t say too much as I don’t want to spoil the surprise but it’s worth getting to this restaurant about five minutes early for some extra drawing time (a great tip from our fabulous waiter). We loved Triton’s but the Animator’s Palate still came out in front was our favourite restaurant!

Disney Wonder casual dining

Casual eats are provided at Pinocchio’s Pizzeria, Pete’s Boiler Bites for burgers, hot dogs and tacos and Daisy’s De-Lites for healthy salads, sandwiches, wraps and fruit. If you love a buffet, you can head up to Cabanas and fill your plate with an array of goodies. Unlike some other cruise lines, this restaurant is only open for breakfast and lunch which means there is no dinner buffet. All of the evening meals take place in the three main dining room restaurants, but you can also order room service anytime at no additional charge if you fancy a change.

Disney Wonder shows and entertainment

So, ‘Do You Want to Build a Snowman’?  You know you do, which brings us to the entertainment on Disney Wonder and one of the big-ticket items that brings passengers on board. Even if you don’t usually go to shows, you should definitely go to these. 

Let’s start with the big production shows which were ‘Frozen: The Musical Spectacular’, ‘The Golden Mickeys’ (which is themed on a classic awards night like the Golden Globes) and ‘Disney Dreams’, a musical showcase inspired by classic films like Peter Pan, Pinocchio, Cinderella and Aladdin. These were all good with some incredible performers but our family’s favourite was Disney Dreams for its variety of songs, the puppetry and the staging which was Broadway quality, the same as all the other shows onboard.

There were also fireworks on the final night of the cruise and a Marvel Heroes Unite show on the top deck on our second night. Cue characters ziplining across the deck, a suitably droll Loki and plenty of G rated choreographed fight scenes and other action hero stuff. You also get fireworks at the end of this show which is an added bonus.

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Disney wonder movie theatre.

Another onboard highlight is being able to see Disney’s new releases which are shown on the ship on the same day they’re released on land, a bonus if there is a blockbuster coming out that you want to see. The Art Nouveau themed movie theatre is gorgeous and shows classic Disney movies as well, plus all your Disney favourites are available via the in-room TV.

Other entertainment on Disney Wonder

There are yet more entertainment options with the Twist ‘n’ Spout water slide, and AquaLab interactive water play area. We were tempted to give the slide a whirl but never quite got there. One of the things we enjoyed most onboard Disney Magic was the people watching, with adults and children getting a genuine buzz meeting the Disney characters. Warning: your heart will melt watching the little boys and girls seeing their favourites.

Is a Disney Wonder cruise in Australia worth it? 

Disney Cruises aren’t exactly a cheap cruise holiday, so we couldn’t help but wonder if going on a Disney Wonder cruise in Australia was going to be worth it for local cruisers. However, after sailing on Disney Wonder, we couldn’t help but be impressed and the other passengers we spoke to were as well. Three nights onboard felt just right as the ship wasn’t too big so we got to try each main dining room and see all the shows. While there are two night sailings, I would try to get on a three-nights or longer trip if possible.

Everything on our sailing was first-rate, from the immaculate look and feel of the ship (you would never know it was more than 20 years old) to the staff and many free Disney experiences included in the regular fare. Our family of adults discovered that when you ‘When You Wish Upon A Star’ onboard Disney Wonder, your dreams really can come true – no matter how young (or how old) you are.

Disclosure: The writers and their son travelled as guests of Disney Cruise Line. Keep an eye out for special offers and book early for the best deals. 

Want more great cruise advice? Check out our tips for choosing the perfect cruise , cruising with grandchildren , cruising with tweens and cruising with kids of all ages , solo cruising , the best activities on Ovation of the Seas , doing a Transatlantic cruise with kids , cruising in Australia or Papua New Guinea , Iceland cruise tips , cruising on a megaship , scoring a bargain cruise fare , cruising the Mediterranean , making the most of a cruise ship kids club , luxury cruising with kids , and the Byron Beach Club onboard P&O Cruises . We have also reviewed Disney Wonder , Pacific Adventure , Celebrity Edge , Quantum of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas , Pacific Encounter , Carnival Splendor , Voyager of the Seas , Nieuw Statendam , Viking Helgrim , Pride of America , Coral Expeditions in Tasmania and the Great Barrier Reef , Celebrity Solstice , and Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth .

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Trevor Templeman

Trevor Templeman is a photographer and writer who travels the world capturing the essence of locations through their landscape, architecture and people. His words and photographs are published in magazines, newspapers and online around the world.

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The Disney cruise is finally in Australia: Here's everything you need to know

By Kerri Elstub | 11 months ago

I grew up on Disney. We all did, whether you noticed it or not. From the early days of watching Snow White and Cinderella when I was a little girl, to introducing my own kids to the wonders of Lightning McQueen and Buzz Lightyear . I can still quote every line from those movies.

We were lucky enough to venture to the United States and take the kids to Disneyland (how good is Space Mountain!) and Disney World's four Florida theme parks. So how would a Disney Cruise compare?

Surely, without the roller coasters, spinning tea cups and giant turkey legs… it wouldn't be the same?

We boarded the Disney Wonder for her maiden Australian voyage: Sydney to Hobart return with four days of Disney magic. And my goodness, did they deliver.

THE CHECK-IN

It starts before you board the boat. We were greeted by what felt like 20 staff before we even got near the gangway. Everyone is smiling, welcoming and genuinely excited to see you.

But just wait until you board the boat. As you step into the lobby every family or couple is announced by name to a cheering and clapping crew. We lapped it up, dancing down the carpet. We felt like absolute rock stars. And don't just take my word for it. 

I'm cruising with two of the sharpest critics in travel and entertainment: my seven and nine-year-old nieces, Parker and Spencer.

Our cabin is a Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom With Verandah.

Kids will love the Mickey detailing to be found in everything from the lamps to the towels and pillows, parents will appreciate the separate bathroom and toilet.

There's a fridge, a TV, plenty of storage and power points (bring US adaptors) and a turndown service at night that turns your lounge into bunk beds. Genius idea.

The balcony is spacious and, as I type, very sunny as we cross Bass Strait.

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KEYS TO THE WORLD

We were all given our own Key To The World. This is your keycard that allows you to get into your stateroom, as well as book the kids into kids club (more on that shortly), buy non-included items like gifts, special onboard experiences like wine and chocolate pairing and alcohol purchases, as well as tracking the official photographs taken onboard.

You link it to a credit card, then it's automatically deducted at the end of your stay. Bring or buy a lanyard to wear it around your neck. Everyone does. Everyone also wears Mickey ears and if you think you won't do it, you're kidding yourself. I wore mine from breakfast to lights out.

Oh my, the food… where do I begin? Do I begin with the Mickey waffles and churros I ate for breakfast at Cabana's on level 9? The free all-day, soft serve ice-cream? The pizzas by the pool? No, I'll be a grown up and explain the whole dining experience.

Disney wants you to explore all the restaurants onboard, so you'll be rotated around the different places to eat. We started at Tiana's, which is a celebration of southern cooking and jazz music. Apart from the delicious food, the child friendly options and entertainment made this a first class experience. Where else do you stop mid meal for a spontaneous conga line and limbo?

Next up it's Triton's, which takes its name from Ariel, The Little Mermaid 's dad. We were here on pirate night, one of Disney's famous themed nights and all the wait staff were dressed to the nines. My nieces loved the Mickey Mac 'n' Cheese and the Minnie burger, but the real highlight was the magic tricks performed by our waiters each night.

You see, that's the genius thing about Disney dining. You rotate restaurants each night, but your servers rotate with you. Our servers, Felice, Organ and Aditya welcomed us by name every night, engaged with the kids and looked after our every whim.  It's a great way to make the kids feel comfortable at every moment.

Saving the best until last, the final of the included restaurants is Animator's Palate, where they combine the magic of Disney animation with a one of a kind dinner show. You draw on your placemats, then they are turned into an after dinner short movie. It's amazing.

We followed the recommendations of our friendly servers and the black truffle pasta and steak were melt-in-your mouth good. But sure to save room to order a Mickey ice-cream off the kids menu too!

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Palo is the adults-only Italian restaurant at the back of deck 10. It's a decadent and grown up experience that the big kids can enjoy as an optional extra, while the little ones enjoy the kid's club. We couldn't get the girls out of there! Again, more on that later. The wait staff are knowledgeable and warm.

For once, I was too full of gnocchi and buffalo cheese to eat dessert. A first for me. But never fear, I made up for it with brunch at Palo the following day where I can highly recommend the lemon torte.

I mentioned Cabana's before. This is the buffet restaurant at the back of the ship. Open for breakfast and lunch, there is every brekkie staple imaginable including the aforementioned Mickey Mouse waffles! 

Lunch is everything from Mexican, to salads to panini and delicate cakes and tarts worthy of their own high tea. 

Haven't eaten enough? There's also 24-hour room service available. Our girls delighted in the silver service brought straight to their door.

THE KIDS CLUB

Being Disney, the kids club was always going to be exceptional. My nieces were skeptical until the moment they walked through the door. Sold! There are five different areas for the little ones. The Nursery is for under 3s and provides 1:1 care (this is an additional cost to cruise).

Oceaneer's Club is for the 3-13 year olds and it's set out somewhat like a Disney Theme Park with different areas and themes like Toy Story and Marvel. There are so many activities here from goo making to dance parties, your kids won't even know you've gone.

It's strictly no parents allowed and your kids are cared for and monitored at all times by counselors and a Disney wristband. 

Just down the hall is Oceaneer's Lab for the same age group where there's games, drawing, not to mention plenty of visits from the Disney and Marvel characters themselves. For the tweens and almost adults there's the chill-out spaces of The Edge (ages 11-14) and Vibe (14-17) to play video games or just hang out.

On the last day my nieces tearfully handed back their wristbands. They did not want to leave.

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THE CHARACTERS

Of course Disney is ALL about the characters and they are all here… Goofy, Pluto, Daffy, Cinderella, Ariel, the Marvel characters… and of course true Disney royalty, Captain's Mickey And Minnie Mouse.

The characters all have designated appearance times, not to mention the stage shows, so you can interact with them throughout your holiday.  Being Disney, it is super organised and efficient. Be sure to line up early if you want a photo.

THE ACTIVITIES

Knowing little ones need to be entertained, Disney cruise ships have a jam packed schedule from morning until bedtime. There's all day movies by the kids pool, craft, bingo, trivia ,and dance parties, all loved by kids and adults alike. You'll find your daily schedule on the Navigator App that you download before you board.

You can then highlight the ones you like and get reminders when events are about to start. My favourite? The silent dance party. 

For kids, the number one requirement on any cruise ship is a great pool area. Here on the Disney Wonder it's on level nine. There's a life-guard manned heated pool which is a Godsend for parents and little ones, not to mention a spa and an amazing water slide and toddler paddling area.

The main kids pool also plays almost non-stop Disney movies. I found myself still watching and loving Cars and Frozen , despite my 50-plus age.

THE STAGE SHOWS

Disney stage shows are like Broadway on the sea. With about 2700 people onboard, the crew have cleverly split dining and show times so half eat while the other half watch the shows. We had The Golden Mickeys, Disney Dreams and the Frozen musical, which were vocally and visually incredible.

The kids also feel very welcome and nobody is going to bat an eyelid at a restless toddler. And frankly, if you haven't eaten popcorn out of a silver Cinderella carriage, have you even lived?

THE PARTIES/THEME NIGHTS

Along with the stage shows, Disney also goes all out for their daily deck parties. Whether it's Crush's Pool Party, Pirate night or the Sail-A-Wave spectacular… you can dance, sing and cheer along. And did I mention they have their own fireworks too?

FOR THE BIG KIDS

Disney is not just for the kids. There are some hardcore Disney fans out there who are well beyond their teens. So if you're in need of some kid-free time, there are plenty of adults only zones on level nine including a pool, bar, cafe and lounge area.

I recommend the frosé from Signals bar. There's also whisky and wine tasting, adult trivia, singalongs and happy hours.

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I've got to save the final word for the staff. They are in a league of their own. Everyone has a name tag with their country of origin on it. Everyone says hello, everyone is interested in your trip and wellbeing. They all proudly share their stories of their Disney journey. You feel like part of the Disney family and that is a feeling you can't buy.

And that's the thing with Disney. In the end, Disney is more than just a movie studio or a travel company. Disney is a feeling. It's something you notice from the first moment you step on the ship, to the staff who greet you and the kids by name each day, to the special moments they create.

The Disney cruise experience is one you'll be talking about for years to come. Don't just take my word for it. My nieces will be happy to tell you all about it, but you'll have to wear your Mickey ears!

This author was a guest of Disney Cruise Line.

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• Australia & New Zealand Cruisers

Disney Wonder - 4 day Cruise from Melbourne Review

By Kangakid , November 13, 2023 in Australia & New Zealand Cruisers

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Kangakid was awarded the badge 'Great Review'

Hi All - just back from the 4 day cruise on Disney Wonder.

We were a family of 10 (3 families, Son & Wife and 2 children (11yo, 4yo) and Daughter and her Husband and 2 children (8 yo & 3yo).

We had 3 verandah rooms between us.  Ian and I had a double room and the rest had a room that could hold 4.  They utilise the sofa for one bed and a drop down bunk for the other bed.  The verandah staterooms - have a bathroom with a shower over the bath and handbasin and a separate toilet room with handbasin in there.  The quality fittings in the bathrooms were some of the best we have seen in our over 20 cruises to date.

The ship was  absolutely immaculate throughout - for a ship that is 24 yo it was in pristine condition.  Disney obviously put a lot of effort in maintaining the ship.  To say we were impressed with the maintenance of the ship is an understatement.  

The ship has an adults only area (pool, hot tubs, bar and coffee shop) they also have 2 bar areas (Cadillacs and the Pub)which are also adult only venues.  I was surprised that they had many activities during the day for adults only.

The kids are catered for extremely well as you would expect from Disney.  The queues to meet the characters were loooong - sometimes over 1.5hour wait to see a favourite character.  But everyone was in good spirits.  The staff inform you if there is a cut off point - so you can go elsewhere and see another character if you miss out on that particular time.  The character viewings are numerous during the day and night - so it can be a bit of wait with queuing and standing for long periods.

Food - you are rotated through 3 restaurants for dinner.   You will have the same wait staff that follow you from restaurant to restaurant.  Have to say the restaurants can be quite chaotic.  There is 2 dinner times early (5.45pm and 8.00pm).   No buffet is open for dinner -Cabanas the buffet is open for breakfast and lunch only.  We found the food fine- they had plenty of seafood available at lunches - (prawns and Alaskan crab claw things) never seen these on other cruises.  They have a roast and Mexican - along with typical buffet fare.  They had more than enough to satisfy your needs, not. a huge choice but still plenty to eat.

They also have food areas outside the pool area - such as pizza, burgers, hot dogs and souvlaki.  There is also a section that does salads and nice sandwiches and those poke bowls that are very popular.  All soft drinks are included in the cruise fare.  Also the ever popular soft serve ice cream.

Shows - were absolutely brilliant the best we have seen- they are full production shows - not just the usual song and dance you get on main stream lines.  Absolutely top class.

They had fireworks on 2 nights on our cruise - Marvel Hero night and Pirate Night - these shows are held on Deck 9 followed by a fire work display -these shows were also top class.  It was a bit chilly on deck and the wait time was over an hour if you wanted to get a spot where you could see.

We really enjoyed our Disney cruise - I was a bit hesitate before boarding as the price was so expensive - it cost us for 2 of us in the verandah stateroom over  $US2,900.00 for the 4 night cruise (this included gratuities of $US14.50 per person per day).

Now for the million dollar question - would we as grandparents do this again - probably not  but never say never- but I am sure my grandchildren would definitely do it again.

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MicCanberra

Thanks, very interesting.

MMDown Under

Thanks for your enjoyable review.  As a lover of seafood, prawns and Alaskan Crab Craw things sound appealing.  Can you please explain the latter, small and fat or long and thing?  Did they also have wild salmon?

I may just have to settle for Pete's at The Spit for me fresh seafood. 

What was the cost for a solo versus a double?

2 hours ago, MMDown Under said: Thanks for your enjoyable review.  As a lover of seafood, prawns and Alaskan Crab Craw things sound appealing.  Can you please explain the latter, small and fat or long and thing?  Did they also have wild salmon? I may just have to settle for Pete's at The Spit for me fresh seafood.  What was the cost for a solo versus a double?

Marion, the prawns were a decent size, they had them next to the Alaskan Crab claws which were long and thin.  They also had garlic prawns in the buffet one day as well, I can attest the prawns were yummy.  I didn’t try the Salmon, but did have cod bites and sole (which was rolled) all very yummy.

I am not sure of the cost for a single room.  But I wouldn’t hesitate in getting an interior on Disney we have always sailed in balcony rooms, but on Disney activities on the go all day until 11pm.  We were only ever in our room to shower and get changed for dinner…

3 hours ago, Kangakid said: Marion, the prawns were a decent size, they had them next to the Alaskan Crab claws which were long and thin.  They also had garlic prawns in the buffet one day as well, I can attest the prawns were yummy.  I didn’t try the Salmon, but did have cod bites and sole (which was rolled) all very yummy. I am not sure of the cost for a single room.  But I wouldn’t hesitate in getting an interior on Disney we have always sailed in balcony rooms, but on Disney activities on the go all day until 11pm.  We were only ever in our room to shower and get changed for dinner…   cheers V

Seafood sounds delicious.  Did you meet Mickey or Minnie or did you have another favourite character? 

What a great review, Disney sounds like it's not only a wonderful kids cruise line, but has not forgotten their parents. thank you for putting the time in to give us great insight into the line which is new to Australia.

aussielozzie18

Thank you for coming back and posting your review.  Full production shows, adults only areas and no buffet for dinner were interesting to read about.  Pleased you had such an enjoyable time with your family.

Reading a review of Brilliance of the Seas, the author gave an unsatisfactory review comparing to her TEN cruises on Disney.  Can you imagine ten cruises on Disney.  She did say you get what you pay for!

Can someone please explain to me why our currency is so weak and why cruiselines don't take this into account when they are charging for extras on top of the high cost of the cruise.  

2 hours ago, MMDown Under said: Can someone please explain to me why our currency is so weak and why cruiselines don't take this into account when they are charging for extras on top of the high cost of the cruise.  

Haha, don't forget the Kiwis, our currency is even weaker 😪

6 hours ago, Jean C said: Haha, don't forget the Kiwis, our currency is even weaker 😪

Yes NZ is expensive.  However no taxes etc, what you see is what you pay, so no tipping place.  Loose change in a jar for staff is OK.  The last time I caught a taxi to the airport in Brisbane, the Cabbie reached to the back to give me the 20c change.  (Ladies sit in the back of taxis.)

On 11/14/2023 at 1:11 PM, Kangakid said: Marion, the prawns were a decent size, they had them next to the Alaskan Crab claws which were long and thin.  They also had garlic prawns in the buffet one day as well, I can attest the prawns were yummy.  I didn’t try the Salmon, but did have cod bites and sole (which was rolled) all very yummy. I am not sure of the cost for a single room.  But I wouldn’t hesitate in getting an interior on Disney we have always sailed in balcony rooms, but on Disney activities on the go all day until 11pm.  We were only ever in our room to shower and get changed for dinner…   cheers V

Would you believe I found Wild Alaskan Red Sockeye Salmon in Coles supermarket today and it was marked down close to use by date!  I didn't know they sold it!  Wild salmon is the best.  Most salmon sold in Australia is farmed salmon.  

12 hours ago, MMDown Under said: Can someone please explain to me why our currency is so weak and why cruiselines don't take this into account when they are charging for extras on top of the high cost of the cruise.  

Ask 10 economists & you’ll get 10 different answers. The value is somewhat based on the strength of the Aus economy vs other countries. People make & lose lots of money trying to make money on Fx rates.

The cruise lines are not making extra, just charging in $A to the equivalent USD amount.

Its less than 10 years ago when the $A was higher than USD & our cruise bill was less in $A than USD - we were happy then 😁

4 minutes ago, mr walker said: Ask 10 economists & you’ll get 10 different answers. The value is somewhat based on the strength of the Aus economy vs other countries. People make & lose lots of money trying to make money on Fx rates.   The cruise lines are not making extra, just charging in $A to the equivalent USD amount. Its less than 10 years ago when the $A was higher than USD & our cruise bill was less in $A than USD - we were happy then 😁

Yes, I remember it well! 🥳

2 minutes ago, mr walker said: Ask 10 economists & you’ll get 10 different answers. The value is somewhat based on the strength of the Aus economy vs other countries. People make & lose lots of money trying to make money on Fx rates.   The cruise lines are not making extra, just charging in $A to the equivalent USD amount. Its less than 10 years ago when the $A was higher than USD & our cruise bill was less in $A than USD - we were happy then 😁

I have cruised solo in six berth, four berth, and two berth cabins.  How do young solos afford to cruise now?  I know it is cheaper to fly overseas to UK/Europe/USA now.  But you can't compare flights to a cruise, unless you stopover en route, which we have done lots of times  

On 11/14/2023 at 5:36 PM, MMDown Under said: Seafood sounds delicious.  Did you meet Mickey or Minnie or did you have another favourite character? 

We did meet Mickey and the Princesses, the boys meet Chubucka and the Storm Troopers.  I think my favourite was either Ariel, or Tiana, but every character was fantastic, Goofy was always goofing around…

On 11/16/2023 at 10:14 PM, Kangakid said: We did meet Mickey and the Princesses, the boys meet Chubucka and the Storm Troopers.  I think my favourite was either Ariel, or Tiana, but every character was fantastic, Goofy was always goofing around…

Looks like characters have changed since my girls were little.  Goofy was a favourite.

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Disney Wonder review: Why Australia’s first Disney cruise is ‘Magic at Sea’ for kids

Angela saurine.

• March 5, 2024

Want to know what it’s like to cruise on the first Disney ship to come to Australia? Angela Saurine set sail with five-year-old Oliver to bring you all the details

We’re standing on the deck of the Disney Wonder just off Australia’s east coast when we hear the news – the ship is under attack! Evil villains have boarded the vessel and are attempting to steal the latest Stark Industries technology entrepreneur Tony Stark is unveiling at a special event on board. Fortunately Stark, dressed in his Iron Man armour, and his superhero pals are on hand to save the day. 

An epic battle ensues, with a dazzling display of stunts, special effects and fireworks. At one point we hear a noise and gaze up to see Spider-Man making a spectacular entrance, ziplining across the deck above us. Marvel favourites Thor, Captain America and Black Widow soon join in the action, fighting Red Skull and Loki. With my superhero-obsessed five-year-old son Oliver sitting on my shoulders so he can see over the crowd, I am unable to see his reaction, but I can only imagine it is one of awe.

Marvel meets Mickey on this family-focused cruise

To the uninitiated, it may seem strange to have the Marvel Cinematic Universe come to life on a Disney ship, with the company traditionally associated with more clean-cut characters such as Mickey Mouse and Tinkerbell. But since Walt Disney Company bought Marvel Entertainment for $4 billion in 2009 , the franchise has been successfully incorporated throughout Disney theme parks and cruise ships, as we learn throughout our three-day “cruise to nowhere”. 

A wave of superhero fervour has transformed Disney properties around the globe. Avengers Campus themed lands now draw families to Anaheim’s Disney California Adventure Park and Disneyland Paris, which also boasts a four-star Marvel-themed hotel .

When the Walt Disney Company dedicated a month of its Disney100 anniversary to celebrating “the Season of Super Heroes”, the writing was on the wall: Marvel is here to stay as part of Disney’s imaginative brand. Nowhere is this more apparent than on Disney Cruise Line’s five ships, where favourite heroes (and villains) feature heavily in decor, dining and entertainment offerings. 

But there are still plenty of quintessential Disney cruise experiences on offer as well, from meet and greets with Disney princesses to classic Disney films playing on a large screen above the pool throughout the day.

Departing with Mickey’s Sail-A-Wave party

Before we board, excitement outside Brisbane International Cruise Terminal is at fever pitch, with families dressed in matching Mickey Mouse shirts pulling Mickey Mouse suitcases, girls wearing tiaras and boys in Spider-Man suits. Once we’ve checked out our cabin, which is decorated with historic character sketches, Mickey Mouse lampshades and has a pull-down bunk bed underneath a starry roof, things kick off with a high-energy Mickey’s Sail-A-Wave party. 

Everyone gathers on deck to boogie with the famous mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy et al. Parents get into the spirit with their arms in the air clapping and dancing Nutbush-style routines to the instruction of the professional dancers, before the ship’s horn blows to the timeless tune of When You Wish Upon a Star. “This is the best holiday ever,” Oliver declares after just a few hours on board.

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Many Australian itineraries have no port days, including all two and three-night trips, so the ship’s immersive experiences take centre stage. Some longer cruises have at least one port day in Hobart, Sydney or the Sapphire Coast town of Eden .

The 2024-2025 season adds the first South Pacific island cruise: a round-trip from Sydney to  Nouméa, New Caledonia. Only one day of the six-night voyage is spent on-shore, though – and that makes perfect sense. Storytelling magic and timeless branding are the drawcard here, unique from all other family-friendly cruise lines in Australia .

Restaurants on Disney Wonder’s Australian sailing

The first night we dine at New Orleans-inspired Tiana’s Place , where we are entertained with a supper club-style show starring none other than Princess Tiana, of The Princess and the Frog fame. The menu includes southern delights such as sautéed shrimp and grits, creole chicken and buttermilk beignet. By the end of their night, everyone is up on their feet doing a conga line through the restaurant as the band plays Going Down the Bayou. 

Passengers are rotated through the three themed restaurants on board each night, with the same waitstaff coming along. “You’re stuck with us — there’s no escape,” jokes our head server Dussell, who also entertains the kids with magic tricks between courses. “That guy’s funny!” Oliver cries.

The next night we dine at Triton’s restaurant , an upscale noshery named after the Little Mermaid’s father. But the most impressive experience is Animator’s Palate , where characters we draw on paper placemats when we arrive magically come to life on large screens that line the walls of the restaurant after our meal. Honestly, how do they do that?

Of course, there’s also a buffet restaurant offering everything from Mickey Mouse waffles to eggs benny at breakfast, and from prawns to roasts for lunch, as well as Pinocchio’s Pizzeria by the pool and Pete’s Boiler Bites , serving burgers, hot dogs and tacos. Kids also line up for free soft-serve ice-cream throughout the day at Eye Scream Treats . 

While most meals are included, you can also splash out on brunch or dinner at the adults-only Italian restaurant Palo at the front of the ship while the youngins are in kids’ club.

Disney Wonder kids’ clubs

There are several kids’ clubs on board, catering to different ages. In the Oceaneer Club , children aged three to 10 can see an array of Marvel paraphernalia, including Captain America’s shield, Spider-Man’s web shooters and Ant-Man’s helmet. Captain America’s alter ego, Steve Rogers, even pops by occasionally to teach little ones the basics of the job. There’s also a Toy Story-inspired play area known as Andy’s Room, and an enchanting recreation of Wandering Oaken’s Trading Post from Frozen. 

The adjoining Oceaneers Lab , which caters for children of the same age, has a more adventurous focus, with maps of the world, craft and animation studios, as well as video games. Kids wear electronic wristbands connected to sensors on the roof, so staff know where they are at all times, and wash their hands in state-of-the-art machines before they enter and exit.

It’s A Small World Nursery caters for babies aged from six months up to three-year-olds, at an extra cost. There’s also the Edge tween club for 11 to 14-year-olds offering such things as dance parties and karaoke, and teens club Vibe for ages 14 to 17, with bean bags, board games and arcade games.

Entertainment on the Disney Wonder

There are so many things to do on board the Disney Wonder that it doesn’t really matter that there are no port visits on our cruise. Every day there’s a schedule of activities such as trivia, bingo and karaoke in various lounges, while the Buena Vista Theatre shows both classic and new Disney movies. And when Oliver needs some downtime, we retreat to our cabin to watch cartoons on the Disney Channel. 

But my favourite aspect of the experience is the stage shows performed in the Walt Disney Theatre after dinner each evening. I’ve been a fan of musicals since my dad bought me tickets to Guys and Dolls as a birthday present when I was a little girl, so it’s lovely to be able to introduce Oliver to them at a young age in a family-friendly environment.

The shows on board include Frozen, A Musical Spectacular; The Golden Mickeys, which is like a Disney version of the Oscars, and the award-winning Disney Dreams, which features hits from movies such as Aladdin, Beauty & the Beast and The Lion King. We quickly learn it’s best to get there at least half an hour before showtime to get a seat up the front, to be in the best position possible to enjoy where bubbles and other surprises falls from the ceiling.

Verdict: Disney Wonder is truly ‘Magic at Sea’

It’s no wonder there’s been such a positive response to Disney Cruise Line’s arrival Down Under in late 2023, following years of planning. “It’s been unbelievable,” cruise director Jimmy Lynett says. “A lot of the crew were taken aback by how Australians came on board with Mickey ears and how they’ve been decorating the cabin doors. Everybody has been blown away with what we do entertainment wise. People say, ‘I can’t believe we are on a cruise ship with the level of entertainment we’re getting’.”

It’s fair to say that, when it comes to cruising, Oliver is spoiled for life — or at least for the rest of his childhood.

All about Disney Wonder cruises in Australia

Dreaming of a magical adventure at sea? Here’s what you need to know about Disney cruises Down Under:

When is Disney Wonder sailing from Australia?

Disney Wonder will be sailing from Australia and New Zealand from October to February, with a range of short cruises from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Auckland. The ship is based in America for the rest of the year.

Where do Disney cruises go in Australia?

Itineraries for the 2024-2025 season include round trips from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Auckland, and one-way trips between these cities, some of which have a port day. There’s also the first South Pacific cruise: a round trip from Sydney to New Caledonia. 

How long are Disney cruises in Australia?

Disney Wonder cruises in Australia and New Zealand are two to seven nights long. The shortest itineraries are two and three-night round trips without any stops. The longest is a seven-day round-trip cruise from Melbourne, with port days in Eden, Sydney and Hobart, Tasmania .

What age is a Disney cruise best for?

Kids between four and ten will get the most from a Disney Cruise — they’re the perfect age to be swept away by the immersive themed experiences on board, and old enough to participate in most activities. There’s still something for all ages on the Disney Wonder, though. Tweens and teens have their own clubs, and It’s A Small World Nursery cares for littlies under three. Adults-only venues include Palo restaurant, Quiet Cove Pool, and three themed bars. 

What’s included in a Disney cruise (and what’s not?)

Most meals are included —  that’s buffet meals and most breakfasts, lunches and dinners. Alcohol and adults-only dining options are an additional cost. Be aware that prices on board are in US dollars, so if you splash out on a few cocktails it might hurt when you get your bill at the end of the cruise.

Do you need a passport for a Disney cruise in Australia?

For cruises within Australia, passports aren’t required, but they’re strongly recommended by Disney Cruise Lines . All guests do need “valid government-issued proof of citizenship” which can be a passport or photo ID. A government-issued birth certificate is accepted for kids 17 and under (original or copy).

All guests sailing to New Zealand or New Caledonia do need a passport, including children. You may also need a visa for New Caledonia , and if you’re not an Australian citizen, a NZeTA or visa for New Zealand. 

Passports need to be valid for at least six months after sailing ends. Be sure to check expiry dates and make applications well ahead of time, especially because a child’s first passport tends to take longer . 

Note that requirements may change, so be sure to confirm all travel documentation needs with Disney Cruise Lines directly .

Where to book an Australian Disney Cruise

Bookings are available for 2024 and 2025 sailings from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Auckland. 

Tip: Keep an eye out for deals offering savings of up to 30 per cent off on select voyages on Disney Cruise Line’s website, or take advantage of Klook’s best price guarantee .

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The enchanting world of Disney has sailed into Australia, and it’s bringing all the magic, wonder, and excitement that Disney is known for. Yes, you read that right – the Disney Wonder cruise liner is now gracing Australian waters – YEWWW BEAUTY!!!!

I got an amazing opportunity last week to be one of the first Aussies to stay on board and experience the magic first-hand!! And I will not lie, it blew me away. I did not think I was going to be a cruiser but, baby, I am converted!!

Whether you’re a Disney die-hard, a parent seeking family adventures (and a chance for some solo time), or simply someone looking for a unique and unforgettable cruise experience, this is definitely it!!

So here is something I learned and noticed when I took sail…

It is a Kid’s Paradise

It is no surprise that the Disney Wonder is a kid’s paradise. From character meet-and-greets to themed play areas and engaging kids’ clubs, your little ones will be entertained throughout the journey. And if you’re a parent, this gives you the chance to relax and enjoy some adult time on the ship.

It’s also a fantastic way to enjoy Disney Magic if you have younger children and babies who might not be able to get the most out of the parks just yet.

There are four dedicated kids’ clubs on the Wonder, including:

Disney’s Oceaneer Club and Disney’s Oceaneer Lab (Ages: 3 to 12 years old)

These two clubs offer interactive play areas where kids can engage in various activities, including art projects, storytelling, and video games. With themed areas within these clubs include Marvel’s Avengers Academy and Andy’s Room from Toy Story.

It’s a Small World Nursery (Ages: 6 months to 3 years old)

This nursery is perfect for the littlest cruisers, offering age-appropriate toys and activities in a secure and nurturing environment.

Edge (Ages: 11 to 14 years old)

A dedicated space for tweens to socialize, play games, and participate in exciting activities. It’s a great way for older kids to make new friends.

Vibe (Ages: 14 to 17 years old)

A trendy lounge designed exclusively for teenagers, providing them with a cool hangout spot and organized events.

I must admit, having seen these areas I might be trying to pass for 12 most of my trip!

It’s Not Just for Kids

Many people would assume that Disney Cruises is solely for families with children. And of course, while they do offer fantastic family-friendly activities, Disney Wonder is equally enjoyable for adults and couples.

This includes The Quiet Cove Pool, an adults-only oasis where you can relax and unwind in a serene environment. Lounge by the pool, enjoy a refreshing cocktail from the nearby bar and take in the beautiful sea views without the hustle and bustle of family areas.

Palo, a fine-dining restaurant exclusively for adults. It offers a luxurious dining experience with delectable Italian cuisine. Make a reservation for a romantic dinner or indulge in a delightful brunch, all while enjoying the stunning ocean vistas.

The Senses Spa & Salon is a tranquil retreat for adults seeking relaxation and rejuvenation. Enjoy a range of spa treatments, from massages to facials, and take advantage of the salon services for a fresh new look.

The Disney Wonder also features various nightclubs and lounges, like Azure and Cadillac, which host adult-themed events in the evening.

There is also tonnes of adult-centric shopping onboard all over the ship!!

Nearly Everything is Inclusive

One of the perks of sailing with Disney is that nearly everything is included in your cruise fare. Your Main Dining Rooms, Buffet Dining, Soft Drinks and Coffee, Character Meet-and-Greets, Entertainment, and Kids’ Clubs are all included.

Some things that are not are alcohol, specialty dining, spas and merchandise. So it’s good to plan your trip in advance to know what your budget might indeed look like!

Exclusive Unique Merchandise

This was one of the most exciting things we saw on the ship!! Disney Wonder offers exclusive merchandise that you won’t find anywhere else. So amazing to have a unique souvenir that can make for great keepsakes of your Disney cruise adventure.

Character’s Cruise Wardrobe

If you’re a fan of Disney characters, you’ll love the attention to detail on the cruise. The characters have their own cruise wardrobe, and you’ll be able to capture fantastic photos and moments to share with your audience.

Disney Cruise Navigator App

Of course, your cruise experience will be made easy with the Disney Cruise Navigator app. It’s a handy tool for booking activities and finding your favourite characters on the ship.

Tracking the Ship and Seeing It at Port

One exciting feature of Disney Wonder is the ability to track the ship’s journey and see it at port. Especially if you aren’t planning a cruise anytime soon but want to see the ship, it is well worth it!!

I downloaded Marine Traffic and searched “Wonder”.

Take Your Signature Book

With all the amazing character meet-and-greet opportunities, don’t forget to take your signature book along. This will serve as a wonderful memory book, filled with the autographs and messages from Disney characters you meet during your cruise.

Now having boarded the Disney Wonder cruise ship and seeing everything it has to offer It has certainly changed my mind about cruising!! And how lucky are we in Australia to now have this sailing our seas!!

You can book via Klook here, I find them great for Aussies!!

Whether you have kids or not, there’s something magical for everyone on board. Bon voyage!

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Disney Wonder

Courtesy of Disney Cruise Line |

Find a Cruise on Disney Wonder

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The 2,713-passenger Disney Wonder debuted in 1999. It was most recently updated in 2019; the refurbishment rolled out new family-oriented amenities and entertainment offerings, like Tiana's Place with live music and southern cuisine inspired by the Disney movie, "The Princess and the Frog." 

The ship offers plenty of onboard activities, with 10 designated family areas, five youth clubs and seven adults-only spaces. While younger passengers play at age-appropriate clubs, grown-ups can relax at the adults-only Quiet Cove Pool. When hunger strikes, Wonder offers six dining options, including one adults-only specialty restaurant.

Like the majority of the ship, staterooms are designed with families in mind. Interior cabins can accommodate up to four passengers, while larger suites can sleep up to seven. All cabins come equipped with flat-screen TVs, seating areas and classic Disney designs. Recent cruisers noted the expensive cost of a trip on the Disney Wonder, but most felt the quality of service was top-notch. 

Disney Wonder departs from a range of ports throughout Australia and New Zealand, as well as Hawaii , Vancouver and San Diego , for sailings around the South Pacific, Mexico and Alaska. 

U.S. News Insider Tip : The Disney Wonder features Disney Cruise Line's only Princess and the Frog-inspired rotational dining room. Tiana's Place is themed after a jazz supper club, with a live band, Creole dishes and dancing. – Megan duBois, Contributor

Pros & Cons

Many kid-friendly activities onboard

Some onboard activities cost extra

• Expert Rating » 4.0
• Traveler Rating » 4.4
• Health Rating » 4.5

Disney Wonder ranks # 5 out of 5 Disney Cruise Line Cruise Ships based on an analysis of expert and user ratings, as well as health ratings.

• # 5 in Best Disney Cruise Line
• # 6 in Best Cruises to Mexico
• # 9 in Best Cruises to Alaska
• # 9 in Best Cruises to the Pacific
• # 11 in Best Cruises for Families

Disney Wonder offers a wide range of accomodation options. Browse cabins to find the stateroom that suits your needs.

Disney Wonder contains 11 decks. Find out which features are available on each Disney Wonder deck.

Traveler Reviews

A ship’s traveler rating is provided under license by Cruiseline.com , which manages one of the largest databases of cruise reviews and ratings by travelers. A total of 756 guests have reviewed Disney Wonder , giving it a rating of 4.4 on a scale of 1-5.

Cruiseline Travel Rating:

Reviews by traveler type.

Ship Photos

Disclaimers about ship ratings: A ship’s Health Rating is based on vessel inspection scores published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If a ship did not receive a CDC score within 22 months prior to the calculation of its Overall Rating, its Health Rating appears as N/A; in such a case, the ship’s Overall Rating is calculated using the average Health Rating of all CDC-rated ships within the cruise line. All ship Traveler Ratings are based on ratings provided under license by Cruiseline.com.

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Disney Wonder

Cruise line Disney Cruise Line

• San Diego (California)
• Vancouver (BC Canada)
• Sydney (NSW Australia)
• Melbourne (Victoria Australia)
• Auckland (New Zealand)

Disney Wonder current position

Disney Wonder current location is at North America West Coast (coordinates 54.17758 N / -131.02904 W) cruising at speed of 18.9 kn (35 km/h | 22 mph) en route to Vancouver. The AIS position was reported 56 seconds ago.

Current itinerary of Disney Wonder

Disney Wonder current cruise is 7 days, round-trip Alaskan Cruise From Vancouver . Prices start from USD 8232 (double occupancy rates). The itinerary starts on 09 Sep, 2024 and ends on 16 Sep, 2024 .

Specifications of Disney Wonder

•   Itineraries
•   Review
•   Wiki

Disney Wonder Itineraries

Disney wonder review, review of disney wonder.

The 1999-built MS Disney Wonder cruise ship is Walt Disney 's second liner with sistership Disney Magic (1998).

The vessel (IMO number 9126819) is currently Bahamas- flagged (MMSI 308457000) and registered in Nassau .

History - construction and ownership

DCL-Disney Cruise Line is a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company (shipowner). The company was incorporated in 1996 as "Magical Cruise Company Ltd". Walt Disney also owns the Bahamian private island Castaway Cay (exclusive port of call - for Disney ships only) and an exclusive Cruise Terminal at Port Canaveral (Orlando Florida) . Disney cruises are marketed as "family vacations" and feature unique and exclusive activities, such as costumed Disney Characters, adults-only deck areas, dedicated facilities for teens, kids and infants-toddlers, signature (trademarked) shipboard facilities and activities, themed live entertainment.

The 1750-passenger ship Disney Wonder caters mostly to families with small children, so the adults-only "quiet places" and entertainment areas are your special place to be if running and screaming little angels and devils are not your kinds of fun.

One of the best cruise ships for families with kids, the Disney ship Wonder features a classic 1930's ocean liner design - an elongated black hull and two bright red funnels. The Disney cruise ship Disney Wonder is mostly associated with its Art Nouveau decor, Disney characters all around, "Mickeys" everywhere, amazing onboard children's programs with age-proper activities, excellent service and really great family fun cruises for kids.

Probably the best thing about this Disney fleet mate is that the Disney Lines Wonder ship sails Alaska since 2011 - the newest Disney cruise ship destination with the best Disney deals on Alaska cruises and excursions.

The Disney ship Wonder was launched in 1999 to double company's passenger capacity with another set of nearly thousand of some of the best equipped, largest staterooms at sea. Like all Disney ships, the Disney Cruise Line Wonder ship's primary market is families with small kids (mostly younger than 8). Besides them, the Disney Wonder ship CLIENTELE consists also of an ever-growing number of honeymooners and travelers without kids, simply enjoying the oversized Disney ship accommodations, the adults-only areas, and all the Disney details - both on board and on Castaway Cay.

The Disney Wonder ship DRESS CODE is day resort casual (all ship areas) and evening cruise casual (no shorts-jeans-swimwear), for men pants and jackets (no ties), and summer dresses for women. One semi-formal night (the Captain's Reception), one formal night (not mandatory; most passengers don't participate in it) and one "Pirate Night" (people dress in pirate attire).

Disney Wonder TIPS are the US $12 PP per day (charged to passengers' onboard accounts automatically or pre-payed), given respectively to waiters $8 (dining room servers $4, assistant servers $3, head servers $1) and cabin stewards $4. Additionally, bar drinks and deck service areas have a 15% tipping added to your bill.

Decks and Cabins

Most Disney Wonder staterooms (877 total, in 22 grades) are 225-260-ft2 Balconies. The ship has 22 Suites, 362 Balcony, 235 Oceanview and 256 Inside cabins. The largest accommodations are the Royal Suites (845 ft2 / 79 m2 plus 185 ft2 / 17 m2 terrace).

All cabins boast sizes larger than the industry average, with the majority of them offering a separate bedroom and living room areas, a deep convertible sofa, a bunk bed (folding down from the ceiling, with safety rails, 2 beds convertible to a queen.

Additionally, Disney Wonder family cruise cabins for families of 5 have a Murphy bed (wall-mounted). Plenty of storage space (the suitcases store well under the bed), subtle maple furniture, a closet with a dresser, a desk/dressing table, a smart HDTV with all Disney channels, 2 portable "Wave Phones" (you can text and talk on them throughout the ship), 2 bathrooms (one with toilet-sink, one with tub-shower-sink), a hairdryer. Balcony cabins also have 2 chairs and a small table on the veranda. Standard bathroom amenities by the premium H2O Plus cosmetics (soap-shampoo-lotion, suite guests get additional offerings), Euro-top mattresses, Egyptian cotton linens, luxurious bath towels, upon request - cribs and diaper genies.

Disney Wonder suites are of 3 types (1 and 2-bedrooms), featuring dining tables, Jacuzzis, huge balconies. The Walt and Royal Suites are the Wonder ship's biggest accommodations. In addition, suite guests can enjoy a memory foam pillow, comfortable duvets, robes, and slippers, plus the main dining room's menu available as a room service option.

The boat has 11 decks , of which 6 are with cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Disney Wonder ship dining experiences include the Disney Line's rotational dining system pertaining to the ship's 3 main restaurants (you dine each night in a different restaurant, accompanied by the same companions and waiters), with 2 dining times (6:15 and 8:15 pm, table number, and rotations are on your dining tickets). The "Animator's Palate" room features numerous special lighting effects and animations (including the menu holograms, scenes transform from B&W sketches to full-color animated images), the "Parrot Cay" is Caribbean-themed (a delicious seafood buffet and great salad choices) and the most formal of the three is the upscale "Triton's" restaurant (the last two are also open for breakfast and lunch). All main dining rooms offer free drinks during dinner, a wine purchase program.

Disney Wonder food is really wondrous - all is made on the ship, quality ingredients, beautifully prepared, with "light" choices at dinner, a separate kids menu.

"Palo" is the Wonder ship's specialty dining option - an adults-only elegant restaurant (Northern Italian (Med) cuisine), open daily for Champagne brunch and dinner (reservations are required, guests are allowed to book only 1 brunch and 1 dinner per sailing).

On Deck 9 is located the "Beach Blanket" buffet - an indoor/outdoor casual dining venue (breakfast and lunch) with salads, sandwiches, Mickey waffles, cookies, and fruits, with a made-to-order omelet station. Other excellent venues to dine casually are the "Pinocchio's Pizzeria", "Pluto's Dog House" (burgers and hot dogs, chicken tenders) and the Goofy's Galley (wrap sandwiches, a great selection of fruits, ice-cream). The Deck 9 self-serve beverage station offers free juices and sodas.

24-hour room service (Continental breakfast, soups, and salads, cheese, chicken, etc). Suite guests can order from the main restaurant's menus.

Follows the complete list of Disney Wonder restaurants and food bars.

• Triton's Restaurant / Lumiere's (462-seat forward Dining Room, serving Breakfast and 3-course menu for Lunch; with 2 Dinner seatings 5:30 p.m.-6 p.m. and 8 p.m.-8:30 p.m.)
• Parrot Cay Restaurant / Carioca's (462-seat aft Dining Room for Breakfast and Buffet Lunch; with 2 dinner seatings/4-course menu).
• Animator's Palate Restaurant (462- seat aft Dining Room, animator's studio design, features favorite Disney-character dinner shows; serves complimentary drinks; Rotational Dining with two fixed Dinner seatings - at 5:45 p.m. and 8:15 p.m.)
• Tiana's Place (dinner-only main dining room drawing inspiration from Disney's "The Princess and the Frog.")
• Cabanas (self-service complimentary restaurant with American cuisine, pasta, sushi)
• Pinocchio's Pizzeria (outdoor complimentary restaurant, poolside)
• Beach Blanket Buffet (indoor/outdoor fast-food eatery, complimentary
• Pluto's Dog House (quick service fast food restaurant, complimentary)
• Goofy's Galley (quick service outdoor fast food restaurant, complimentary)
• Palo (130-seat Italian specialty restaurant; adults-only, reservation-only; aft location; bookings via the internet or on board).
• O'Gill's Pub (open from about noon to midnight, sports bar/Irish pub, with English decor, live music, large TVs, classic table games, full bar service, Martini Tastings).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Most of the Disney Wonder kids facilities and public rooms are located on Decks 3-4-5 and are interconnected by its 3-deck high atrium, while the Wonder ship's 3 pools are on Decks 9 and 10. Four locations onboard offer Internet access: the teen-only "Vibe" club (Deck 11), the children-only "Edge" club (Deck 2), the "Promenade Lounge" (Deck 3, all ages, open 24-hours) and the adults-only "Cove Cafe" you can borrow a laptop from the cafe).

The Disney Lines Disney Wonder ship spa, sport, and fitness fun starts with Deck 9's pool area (3 age-specific swimming pools) and the 200-ft long waterslide. The "Mickey's Pool" (aft) is kids-only, with a 385 sq. foot pool extension for not yet toilet trained kids in swim diapers). The "Goofy's Pool" is for families (located in between the funnels, alongside the big LED screen), 2 adjacent Jacuzzis and the "Quiet Cove" (forward) is adults-only, with 2 large hot tubs, and a specialty coffee house). Deck 10 has a basketball court and a volleyball area. The "Aft Overlook" (Deck 7) is another "quite" place on the ship (unless when a wedding is officiated there by the captain).

Ship's promenade (Deck 4) offers a walking-jogging track and lounge chairs. The Vista Spa & Salon complex offers massages, facials and treatments, and its "Tropical Rain Forest" area has a sauna and steam rooms. The Wonder ship also features 3 new spa villas for the most expensive spa services (a spa suite with its own private veranda and a Jacuzzi). The recently expanded fitness center is well equipped (Life Fitness equipment) and also has a small room for personal training sessions.

Disney characters appearances are one of the highlights of all the best Disney Wonder cruises for kids with the ever best age-specific activities at sea. The Disney Wonder kids cruise programming and the unique Disney-themed entertainment are the main reasons for the Disney Wonder line's high popularity and loyalty passengers ratio. Like all Disney ships, Wonder has no casino, instead, it has innovative offerings, like the "Studio Sea" (family dance parties and karaoke, scavenger hunts and funny game shows) and the "Buena Vista Theatre" (all the newest Disney company releases and the best Disney 3D movie experience). Another popular day activities for families are the basketball and karaoke tournaments and the ship tour. Some of the greatest advantages on board are the "Wave Phones" (2 per cabin, with text-messaging capabilities and ship-wide coverage).

Unique for MS Disney Wonder Alaskan kids cruise specials are the "Junior Ranger" programs (about Alaska's wildlife, environment, etc, held in the children's clubs, Studio Sea and in the Disney Theater) and the "Base Camp" held whenever the ship sails into Tracy Arm Fjord (all kids programs move on deck for Alaskan themed games and crafts).

All Disney ships also feature the Little Mermaid-themed "Flounder's Reef" nursery (babies and toddlers up to 3 yo), the "Oceaneer's Club" (3-7 yo), the "Oceaneer's Lab" (8-12 yo), the "Edge" club (11-13 yo) and the "Vibe" club (teens ages 14-17).

Singles and couples may attend wine or martini tastings, Alaska seafood-themed cooking classes and demonstrations or a sophisticated art auction. The main area for the Wonder ship's adult-only evening entertainment is "Route 66" (located Deck 3 forward). This dance club features video dance parties, karaoke, and dancers from the crew performing skits to certain songs. Deck 3 also has its "Cadillac Lounge" piano bar and the "Diversions - the sports bar with large comfortable chairs and huge plasma TVs. The "Overlook Cafe" is a unique Disney ship venue (located upstairs from "Cove Cafe") for adult guests to quietly enjoy all the amazing views during an Alaskan cruise.

The 3-decks high Walt Disney Theatre (capacity 977 most comfortable seats) boasts some of the best large production shows at sea, like "The Golden Mickeys" (with all the famous and infamous Disney characters) and "Toy Story The Musical". Another great hit is the "Pirates in the Caribbean" deck party, beginning in the dining room (a pirate scroll menu and bandannas for all), then follows the pool-deck party - and all is on camera and on the huge LED screen (24x14 ft, located on Deck 9, the forward funnel, near the Goofy Pool). Know that the law forbids the fireworks on all Disney Wonder Alaskan cruises.

Follows the complete list of Disney Wonder lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults.

• Walt Disney Wonder Theatre (977-seat, 3-decks high; offers live shows, aerial acrobatics performances, grand-style productions, 3D movies; with two evening shows - at 6:15 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.)
• Wonder's Atrium (3-deck high central ship area, with "The Little Mermaid"'s Ariel bronze statue)
• Route 66/Beat Street (3 clubs' entertainment district, adults-only after 9 pm; Cadillac Lounge, Diversions, WaveBands)
• WaveBands Lounge & Bar
• Studio Sea (kids & families entertainment)
• Diversions Pub (adults-only sports bar, with large TVs and live music)
• Mickey's Mates (Disney brand logo shops for postcards, souvenirs, DVDs, toys, clothes, games)
• Treasure Ketch (duty-free crystal, brand jewelry, watches, precious stones, Disney merchandise, underwear, sport, and swimming apparel)
• Radar Trap (duty-free brand jewelry, perfumes, liquor, and tobaccos)
• Promenade Lounge (104-seat family venue with full bar service, specialty coffees, and drinks; with the Internet Cafe)
• Buena Vista Theatre (268-seat 4D cinema, features 3D movies, Dolby Surround 7.1, and Dolby 3D movie technology)
• Fathoms / WaveBands Lounge Disco & Nightclub (family- in the day and adults-only in the nightclub)
• D Lounge (family day bar and nightclub, games, dancing, shows, karaoke; full bar service)
• Keys (adult-only piano bar, live piano and vocals music, full bar service/additional charge)
• Preludes Bar (quick wait-service snacks & beverages bar)
• Shutters PhotoShop (photo packages, accessories, photographic services); Art Gallery
• Vibe Disco & Club Lounge (teens only)
• Flounder's Reef Nursery (for 3 months to 3 yo infants and toddlers; reservations required)
• Wonder's Oceaneer Club (kids 3-12 yo; with four play areas with themes from Disney films); Wonder's Oceaneer Lab (play area for kids 3-12 yo)
• Vista Spa & Fitness Complex (with Treatment Salon, Thermal Bath, Sauna, Relaxation Room, Garden Area; Fitness Centre /health and wellbeing seminars; Beauty Salon)
• Vista Spa Villas (private suites with own hot tub, private verandah, Roman bed with canopy, open-air shower)
• Quiet Cove Pool (adults-only swimming pool, served by Cove Bar; with 2 Whirlpools)
• Cove Cafe (adult-only, with big TV screen; Wi-Fi spot)
• Signals Bar (adults-only bar for snacks and beverages, poolside)
• Scoops (ice cream parlor)
• Goofy's Family Pool; Mickey's Pool; AquaDunk Water Slide; AquaLab (kids interactive water play area)
• Quarter Masters (video games arcade)
• Edge Lounge (11-14 yo teens-only club area, with a giant video wall, interactive games, Internet)
• Outdoor LED movie-screen (24x14 feet)
• Wide World of Sports Court (basketball, volleyball, soccer); Shuffleboard, Walking/Jogging Track
• Radio Studio (live radio programs for Disney Wonder itinerary-related news and onboard events)
• Outlook Bar (retreat area with a piano and full bar; hosts weddings receptions).

Itineraries

Disney Wonder itinerary program is based on 7-day Alaskan voyages (departing from homeport Vancouver BC Canada ), Mexican Riviera roundtrips (out of San Diego CA ), Bahamas with Western-Eastern Caribbean roundtrips (from Galveston TX ). Port destinations also include DCL's private Bahamian island Castaway Cay .

Wonder is also the DCL ship that operates Panama Canal transition cruises (on repositioning) before and after its Alaskan deployment during summer.

In Spring 2020, for the first time from New Orleans , DCL scheduled a total of 5x roundtrips on the homeported there Disney Wonder.

• The 7-day Bahamian Cruise (Feb 7-14) visits Nassau , Castaway Cay Island , Key West FL .
• The 7-day Western Caribbean Cruise (Feb 14-21) visits Mexico (Cozumel) , Grand Cayman (George Town) , Jamaica (Falmouth) .
• The 6-day voyage (Feb 21-27) visits Cozumel and Grand Cayman.
• The 4-day voyages (Feb 27 - Mar 2, and March 2-6) visit Cozumel.
• Followed a 14-day Panama Canal repositioning to San Diego .

In September 2022 (at D23 Expo 2022 in Anaheim CA) DCL announced the company's inaugural season in Australia and New Zealand (Nov 2023 thru Feb 2024). Disney Wonder's 2-3-4-6-night itineraries in the region depart from 4 homeports - 3x in Australia ( Brisbane QLD ,  Melbourne VIC ,  Sydney NSW ) and 1x in New Zealand ( Auckland NZ ). Disney's maiden Australian voyage departed on October 28, 2023, out of Sydney.

Photos of Disney Wonder

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Disney Wonder Wiki

The Walt Disney ship Wonder is the company's second vessel, with sistership Disney Magic . They are each 40% smaller in size compared to the newer Disney ships ( Dream and Fantasy ). Wonder's first cruise was a Transatlantic crossing from Italy to Florida - leaving from the shipbuilding yard Marghera ( Venice ) to Port Canaveral (Orlando) with 2 stops - in the UK ( Southampton England ) and the Azores ( Ponta Delgada ). Liner's Godmother was Tinkerbell - a popular Disney character from the "Peter Pan" movie (1953).

The vessel (Fincantieri Marghera yard/hull number 5990) is powered by Wartsila-Sulzer marine diesel engines (model 16ZAV40S) with total power output 58,25 MW. The propulsion system is diesel-electric.

Wonder has Disney's signature sleek design, black hull, two matching red funnels and yellow Disney insignias. The indoor decoration is in both Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles. Wonder is among industry's best family-friendly passenger ships, with numerous entertainment and dining options and regularly scheduled programs targeting not only the kids but the whole family. Families can go together to the evening stage revues, game shows or themed workshops.

On August 15, 1999, the vessel started its Caribbean cruise service with 4-night itinerary from homeport Port Canaveral (Orlando) Florida to Bahamas. The ship originally operated on 3- and 4-night Bahamas cruises, but in 2011 was relocated through Panama Canal from the Caribbean Sea to the US Pacific Coast. There, it operated on 7-day Mexico Riviera cruises leaving from Californian homeports (mainly Los Angeles , but also out of San Diego and San Francisco ) to call ports Vallarta , Cabo and Baja Ensenada .

In 2012 (April through October), MS Disney Wonder became DCL fleet's first to visit Hawaii (ports Hilo, Kahului, Honolulu). In 2012 (May through September), this was again the first Disney ship with Alaskan cruise itineraries (leaving from homeport Seattle WA ) to Ketchikan , Skagway , Juneau , and Victoria BC (Canada) .

This Walt Disney ship has as namesakes the cruise liner Wonder of the Seas ( Royal Caribbean International ) and the cruiseferry Moby Wonder ( MOBY LINES ).

Disney Wonder refurbishments review

The list of deck plan changes after the 2016 drydock refurbishment in Cadiz Spain (September 9 through October 23) included:

• Upper decks were redesigned, adding AquaDunk (new waterslide), AquaLab (interactive water play area with the Twist n' Spout waterslide), Dory's Reef (splash zone for toddlers).
• Animator's Palette restaurant (ex-Studio C) with new HDTVs, lights, walls, speakers
• new Carioca's (Brazilian-themed restaurant replacing Parrot Cay)
• Tiana's Place is a new restaurant named after Princess Tiana from the Disney animation "The Princess and the Frog". The new eatery is Disney Wonder ship exclusive and features a stage for live jazz-swing-blues performances and street party style events. The themed decor includes Tiana's family photos and framed culinary awards on the walls, water lily-shaped candleholders. The menu is influenced by southern USA cuisine (Louisiana bayou).
• new Cabanas (replacing Topsider Buffet, hugely enlarged)
• new lounge (D Lounge) is dedicated to family games and themed entertainment.
• On deck 10, Palo Restaurant was renovated (new fixtures, glass artwork, stone floor, new Venetian decor).
• Mickey's Mainsail (new shop)
• (Deck 3) After Hours (adult district) receives Fathoms (new disco nightclub), Keys (piano bar, replacing Cadillac Bar) and O'Gills (new English pub). The new pub has an authentic tavern menu (incl selection of specialty and British beers, draft beer, cocktails), dark wood paneling, brass accents, plush leather furniture, artworks (incl scenes from Disney movies set in London).
• (Deck 4) Animator's Palate Restaurant (dining room) was updated with two dinner shows - "Drawn to Magic" and "Animation Magic".
• expanded Senses Spa and Salon (by 725 ft2 / 70 m2), now with Barbershop, "Chill Teen Spa" and "Smile Spa".
• "Small World Nursery", "Nephews"
• renovated and redesigned passenger rooms (elevated beds for more storage space)
• Lobby Atrium changes (2nd staircase removed, the Chihuly chandelier replaced with an Art Deco one)

Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab changes - now with Marvel's Avengers Academy (Marvel Super Hero Academy/the first at sea), Andy's Room (Toy Story-themed, now has the Slinky Dog slide, Mr Potato Head, Hamm the piggy bank, regular Woody and Jessie character visits, scavenger hunts), Club Disney Junior (Disney Junior characters, games, storytelling, Doc McStuffins character visits), Frozen Adventures (play and activities, via digital screen Olaf leads games and singalongs, Anna and Elsa character visits). Also changed are the interiors of the rooms Pixie Hollow and Mickey Mouse Club. The upgraded programming offers more live interactions (Disney character visits).

Disney Wonder's next drydock was at Damen Shiprepair Brest France (conducted in October 2020). The project included mainly general/routine maintenance works and minor upgrades.

The ship's last drydock was in 2023 (September 17 through October 3) conducted at Seaspan Victoria Shipyards in Victoria BC Canada . The 2-week drydocking project was mainly for regular maintenance (technical overhaul and hotel upkeep).

Itineraries review

Follows the ship's concise service history (former itineraries):

• [1999-2011] sailed on 3- and 4-day Bahamas cruises from Port Canaveral (Orlando) Florida
• [2011] relocated to Los Angeles CA for round-trip departures to Mexican Riviera, Baja Ensenada , and the Hawaiian Islands. During summer, Disney Wonder operates on 7-day round-trip Alaskan cruises leaving from Vancouver BC (Canada) or Seattle WA .
• In 2016, the ship was home-ported in Galveston TX (November 14 through January 20) and in 2017 relocated back to Orlando. Galveston departures offered 8-day Western and Eastern Caribbean cruises to Key WestFL, Castaway Cay, Nassau, Mexico (Cozumel, Costa Maya), Jamaica (Falmouth), Grand Cayman.

On April 30, 2017, Disney Wonder became the world's first-ever cruise vessel that passed through Panama Canal's new locks.

Disney Wonder was on a 14-night repositioning voyage from Florida to California ( Port Canaveral to San Diego ). From San Diego, the ship operated several Baja Mexico itineraries before its summer Alaskan season with departures from Vancouver BC Canada .

Disney cruises in Australia 2023-2024 (inaugural season)

In September 2022 (at D23 Expo 2022 in Anaheim CA) DCL announced its inaugural season in Australia and New Zealand (Oct 2023 thru Feb 2024).

Disney Wonder's voyages (2- to 6-night itineraries) departed from 4 homeports - 3x in Australia ( Brisbane QLD , Melbourne VIC , Sydney NSW ) and 1x in New Zealand ( Auckland NZ ).

Disney's maiden Australian voyage departed on October 28 (2023) out of Sydney Harbour.

Most departures are from Sydney (12x), followed by Melbourne (10x). The homeporting in Brisbane and Auckland was scheduled for Nov-Dec 2023.

The program also included Transpacific crossings (RepositionCruises.com) from Alaska to Australia via Hawaii (Vancouver-Hilo-Nawiliwili-Kahului-Honolulu-American Samoa-Fiji-New Caledonia-Sydney) in 2023, and on the reverse route (Australia-Hawaii-Alaska) in 2024.

Call ports included Eden (NSW AU) , Hobart (Tasmania) , and Noumea (Grande Terre/New Caledonia) visited on the longest sailings. Cruises to Nowhere (portless roundtrips) were offered as 2-night voyages from the Australian homeports as well as 3-night roundtrips from Auckland.

Bookings for Disney's Australia and New Zealand voyages opened on Sept 26, 2022.

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Everything you need to know about Disney Cruise Line in Australia

September 22, 2022 by ohsobusymum 15 Comments

I’m so EXCITED! Disney Cruise Line is bringing the Disney Wonder cruise ship to Australia for the very first time! You might have noticed that the price of a Disney cruise is a little more than others currently sailing in Australia, so I thought I would break it down for you and let you know exactly what is included and everything you need to know about cruising with Disney Cruise Line in Australia.

Yes, a Disney cruise is more expensive than others available (I call that the Disney tax) and here is why. Firstly it's Disney; everything Disney attracts a higher price, but behind the Disney name comes that Disney magic at sea that can't be matched by other cruise lines. If you have ever visited a Disney Park, you will know exactly what I'm talking about when I say "Disney magic". 

Disney Cruise Line is all about families, and everything on board has been designed and planned with families in mind. From having split bathrooms with bathtubs (say what?) to the activities and food choices on board. Disney is a 5-star cruise line with the magic starting the second you check in for your cruise. 

I’m beyond excited about this announcement, and I will be online with thousands of you trying to secure a spot on one of the Disney cruises out of Brisbane. If you’re trying to secure a spot, I recommend you jump online to the Disney Cruise Line website and sign your account before the cruises are released on September 29th at 8 am AEST or 11 am NZDT to increase your chances of securing a booking. 

Here is Everything you need to know about Disney Cruise Line in Australia

What's included on a disney cruise in the price .

• All food including breakfast, lunch and dinner AND room service (hello, to the famous Mickey shaped ice cream bars delivered straight to your cabin!)
• Soft drinks, coffee, tea and water are served at meals and at each of the ship’s beverage stations
• Snacks and ice cream throughout the ship
• Entertainment including live Broadway-style productions at the Walt Disney Theatre as well as Disney movie classics and current first-run films at the Buena Vista Theatre
• Kids Club (except the "It's a Small World" nursery) 
• Waterslides and pools
• Use of the Disney app where you can make changes, book activities, view schedules and use the chat feature on board. This is handy to keep in touch with your family on board
• Just about everything you could ever think of……

What's not included in the price 

• Alcoholic beverages 
• Gratuities/tips (this can be removed if requested at guest services though customary to tip in America)
• Port Adventures excursions
• Spa and salon services
• Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
• Babysitting in the ship’s nurseries 
• Photography service
• Palo restaurant
• 24-hour self-service guest laundry facilities equipped with washers and dryers, along with detergent and complimentary ironing equipment. No coins are needed―pay using your Key to the World card

Pricing 

Disney has just released prices with the focus of the ship being the “destination”. 

Cruises sailing from Sydney AUD prices start from (for 2 nights on 01/11/23, based on a family of 4):

* Inside Stateroom: $2,273

* Oceanview Stateroom: $2,397

* Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah: $2,660

* Concierge Stateroom with Verandah: $4,141

Cruises sailing from Melbourne AUD prices start from (for 2 nights on 01/11/23 based on a family of 4):

Cruises sailing from Brisbane AUD prices start from for 2 nights on 20/12/23, based on family of 4):

* Inside Stateroom: $3,877

* Oceanview Stateroom: $4,107

* Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah: $4,634

* Concierge Stateroom with Verandah: $7,331

Disney Cruise Line ships have been designed with families in mind. Rooms have curtains to separate the sleeping area, which is perfect for the young ones. All rooms also have a split bathroom with a vanity, sink, shower and bathtub on one side, and a toilet and sink on the other side. 

Base Inside Staterooms - featuring a classic nautical motif, porthole mirror and no exterior view: 

• Deluxe Inside Stateroom (sleeps 3 -4)
• Standard Inside Stateroom (sleeps 3 -4)

Oceanview Rooms - Enjoy more space than standard and scenic vistas through a real porthole window—or possibly 2!

• Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom (Sleeps 4)

Verandah - The most spacious non-Concierge staterooms, each with a private verandah, some with partial views. 

• Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah The room you want to book for a family of 5! (sleeps 4-5)
• Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah (sleeps 4)
• Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Navigator’s Verandah (sleeps 4)

Concierge - The most luxurious rooms and most expensive, each with a large private verandah and premium amenities and services. 

• Concierge Royal Suite with Verandah (sleeps 5)
• Concierge 2-Bedroom Suite with Verandah (sleeps 7)
• Concierge 1-Bedroom Suite with Verandah (sleeps 4)

The Food 

Disney Cruise Line works on ‘rotating dining’ with 3 main dining rooms. There are also casual dining options. Disney's rotating dining means that you will rotate between the three main dining rooms during each night of your cruise, and your servers rotate with you. You will have to reserve your dining time when you book, with the main seating at 5:45pm and the second seating at 8:15pm. 

Animator's Palate

Animator's Palate celebrates the art of storytelling with an interactive dinner. The restaurant will change from black and white images to colour masterpieces throughout your dining experience. Guests can draw characters and see them come to life in animation. It's a fun and interactive dinner that will soon become one of your favourites. 

Tiana's Palate 

Tiana's Palate is a themed restaurant based around the story of the Princess and the Frog. The style of this restaurant is a New Orleans style party with live music to keep everyone entertained. It's fun and entertaining, but loud with the live music. You can expect Southern style cuisine from steak, chicken to fish and the kid's menu will not disappoint. 

Triton's is named after Ariel's father from The Little Mermaid and is the most upscale restaurant on rotational dining aboard the Disney Wonder. It's themed ‘under the sea’ with a French and American menu. Triton's is the only dining room to serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. 

Palo (extra charge)

Palo is a paid upscale restaurant that is adults only serving up Italian cuisine. It makes the perfect date night dining experience without the kids. Palo also serves brunch. You can expect to pay an extra $40USD ($60AUD) per person to dine here. You can read reviews online to see if it's worth it for you.

Casual Dining 

Pinocchio's Pizza - Grab a slice of pizza throughout the day whenever you're hungry!

Eye Scream Treats - The perfect spot to grab a soft serve ice cream (eat as much as you want!) 

Pete's Boiler Bites - You will find classic American food like hot dogs, tacos and burgers.

Daisy's De-Lites - Grab a salad, sandwich, wraps or some fresh fruit here

Cabanas - Cabanas serve a buffet style breakfast and lunch (hello Mickey waffles) and at dinner, transform to table service where you can enjoy a 4 course meal

Room Service - Included in the price of your cruise, room service is available 24 hours a day, for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. Any room service gratuity/tips are at your discretion and should be around $1 per item

Bars and Lounges

French Quarter Lounge - A perfect stop to grab a coffee or cocktail while listening to some live music. During the day, it turns into a family friendly spot with games and activities plus character meets

Crown & Fin Pub - This is an adult only bar that resembles a British pub. You can enjoy watching sporting events and live music

Cove Cafe - This is another adults only bar that offers cocktails, wine and specialty drinks

Cadillac Lounge - Adult only exclusive in an intimate piano bar with a 1950's theme

Signals - This is located right next to the Cove pool, so it makes it the perfect place to grab a drink while lounging around the pool area

The Kids Club

The Disney Wonder has 5 options when it comes to kids clubs on board. When I say kids club, it's not your typical kids club. Disney Cruise Line kids clubs are world class with themed play areas. Kids will even have the chance to meet their favourite characters! 

Oceaneer Club - Disney's Oceaneer Club is suitable for ages 3-12 years old (must be fully toilet trained). It's all about fantasy here with Andy's Room multilevel playground, Marvel Superhero Academy, Disney Junior games and a Frozen Adventure area.

Oceaneer Lab - suitable for ages 3 - 12 years old (must be fully toilet trained). With four lands to explore in the Oceaneer Lab, your kids won't want to leave (connected to the Oceaneer Club so kids can move between the 2). It's all about fun and learning with an animator's studio, captains workshop, craft studio and the wheelhouse where kids can steer the ship in any direction they please. 

Edge - Suitable for ages 11-14 years old , edge provides a hangout spot for tweens to have fun and make new friends. Tweens can play video games, take selfies on the dedicated wall, do scavenger hunts, karaoke and dance on the dance floor. 

Vibe - Suitable for ages 14-17 years old and is a teens only hangout! Teens will find video games, board games, dance parties and a coffee bar to serve up non alcoholic drinks. 

It's a Small World nursery - Suitable for ages 6 months - 3 years old and an extra charge. Disney's trained staff will take care of the little ones and keep them entertained. 

Make sure you register your children for the kids club on the first day of the cruise. 

Entertainment 

Mickey's Sail A Wave Party - To kick off leaving the dock, you will enjoy the most magical party to celebrate with dancing, singing and character visits

Pirate nigh t - This one is a favourite night to celebrate! Dress up as a pirate and enjoy dinner with your pirate bandana and end the night with a celebration on deck (some cruises have fireworks)

Outdoor movies on the big screen - You can enjoy an ice cream or cocktail by the pool while watching one of the Disney classics

Live shows - You won't get bored with the range of musicals and shows on board in the theatre

Fireworks - It hasn’t been announced if fireworks will be included on the Australian cruises, but we can all cross our fingers for this experience

Character meets - Meet, greet and strike a pose with some of your favourite Disney Characters! Kids of all ages can share hugs with Cinderella or goof around with Goofy. Take pictures with Mickey, Minnie and Peter Pan or collect autographs from that lovable but ever-mischievous duo, Chip 'n Dale

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique - Book an appointment at this enchanted salon where kids arrive as themselves and leave as a princess, knight or sea captain (paid)

Adults Only

Now I know when you hear Disney cruise you think kids cruise, but Disney caters to the big kids too! 

• Nightclubs and lounges featuring cocktails, entertainment and dancing
• Quiet Cove pool is a tranquil oasis where you can swim, enjoy whirlpool spas or soak in the sun
• Fitness centre, offering workout equipment, exercise and toning classes
• Spa and salon offering the ultimate in serenity, pampering and personal attention
• Adults-only dining at Palo, a Northern Italian-themed restaurant

Inspired by all things Disney travel? Check out my Disney travel posts. 

• HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO GO TO WALT DISNEY WORLD IN 2022?
• HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO GO TO DISNEYLAND IN 2022 FROM AUSTRALIA?
• OUR STAY AT AULANI, DISNEY RESORT HAWAII
• PLANNING A TRIP TO DISNEYLAND? HERE IS EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW!

I hope this post helps you plan your Disney Cruise in Australia! If you have any questions, feel free to ask or join my Disney Mums and Dads Facebook group . 

More Disney

Reader Interactions

September 22, 2022 at 1:47 pm

Thanks so much for clarifying so much in this post. I'm amazed to discover while yes there are cheaper cruise options out there, this is still affordable for a family if placed on a payment plan. I only wish Stitch was on board as that would seal the deal for my little family.

September 25, 2022 at 2:14 pm

Do you need passports and proof of vaccination

ohsobusymum

September 27, 2022 at 11:38 am

I'm not sure yet. Maybe contact Disney Cruise for this information.

September 22, 2022 at 9:41 pm

How do I book? Is there a web address? Thank you.

September 25, 2022 at 11:34 am

You can book on directly on the Disney website here: https://disneycruise.disney.go.com

September 25, 2022 at 9:54 pm

Hi. Do you know vaccination requirements please? Thanks

No I don't.

Darla Connaughton

September 26, 2022 at 6:54 pm

Can you go for more than 2 nights?

September 27, 2022 at 11:39 am

Yes you sure can! Check out their website for cruise details and dates.

September 26, 2022 at 8:34 pm

If we have a family of 5 does it cost for the baby who would be 2 at time of travel if he sleeps in the parents bed?

September 27, 2022 at 11:40 am

I think so. Jump on their website and do a quote to see.

September 27, 2022 at 12:26 am

Hi. I was looking at the 2- night cruise departing Melbourne 3 nov 2023. Where does this sail to? Any idea why it’s considerably more expensive than the 2- night cruise departing Sydney on the 1st? Thanks for your detailed post- it’s very helpful!

I have no idea about that one either. Brisbane is more expensive than all of them.

June 28, 2023 at 7:47 pm

Hi, thanks so much for the great information... we have booked for the 2024 season and are so excited. I'm just wondering if the times shone for on board means that's when they let you on or everyone should be on already? So ours says 4.45pm on-board and 7.15am off .... surely we're on the boat before 4.45? And don't have to be off by 7.15? Any advice would be great 🙂 thank you in advance

June 29, 2023 at 7:43 am

When you check in via the Disney Cruise Line App, you will be able to select a boarding time. Priority boarding is always first and around 11am, so I recommend that you select the earliest time available so that you can get on board and start enjoying the ship and have lunch etc. 4:45 would be the the time that everyone has to be on the ship by, not boarding time.

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An unofficial disney cruise line news, information, weather, and photo blog..

Personal Navigators: Disney Wonder 13-Night South Pacific Cruise from Honolulu to Sydney – October 13, 2023

Personal Navigators, and other details from the   13-Night South Pacific Cruise from Honolulu to Sydney . The  Disney Wonder  set sail from  Honolulu, Hawai’i  on October 13, 2023. During this cruise, the ship was under the control of Captain Thord Haugen. The Cruise Director during the sailing was Trent Hitchcock. 

Please note: The Disney Wonder will cross the  International Date Line  while sailing westbound from Hawaii to Australia. As a result, October 21st is lost. On April 11, 2023,  Disney Cruise Line modified the itinerary changing ports  in Fiji from  Lautoka, Fiji  to  Suva, Fiji .

Day 1 – October 13, 2023 –  Honolulu, Hawai’i

Guests Onboard : 4:00 pm Personal Navigator – Day 1

Attire : Cruise Casual

Drink of the Day :  Paradise Punch  •  Non-Alcoholic :  Espresso Chiller

Dinner Menus :

• Triton’s :  Let the Magic Begin
• Animator’s Palate :  Let the Magic Begin
• Tiana’s Place :  Let the Magic Begin

Day 2 – October 14, 2023 – At Sea

Personal Navigator – Day 2

Attire : Formal

Drink of the Day :  Bahama Mama  •  Non-Alcoholic :  Passion Cream Freeze

• Triton’s :  Aloha Hawaii
• Animator’s Palate :  Aloha Hawaii
• Tiana’s Place :  Aloha Hawaii

Evening Entertainment :

• Featured Act –  Barrie Kealoha – Island Girl

Day 3 – October 15, 2023 – At Sea

Personal Navigator – Day 3

Drink of the Day :  Yellow Bird  •  Non-Alcoholic :  Lava Smoothie

• Triton’s :  Triton’s
• Animator’s Palate :  Animator’s Palate
• Tiana’s Place :  Tiana’s Place – Princess
• Walt Disney Theatre Production –  The Golden Mickeys

Day 4 – October 16, 2023 – At Sea

Personal Navigator – Day 4 Time Change : Back 1 hour before bed.

Drink of the Day : Bay Breeze •  Non-Alcoholic : Bora Shake

• Featured Act –  The Magic & Illusion of Eric Jones

Day 5 – October 17, 2023 – At Sea

Personal Navigator – Day 5

Drink of the Day :  Mai Tai  •  Non-Alcoholic :  Cranberry No-Jito

• Featured Act –  Andy Joy The (Instru)mentalist

Day 6 – October 18, 2023 – At Sea

Personal Navigator – Day 6

Drink of the Day : Blue Hawaiian •  Non-Alcoholic :  Parrot Song

• Triton’s :  Land & Sea
• Animator’s Palate :  World of Flavour
• Tiana’s Place :  Vista
• Walt Disney Theatre Production –  Frozen, A Musical Spectacular

Day 7 – October 19, 2023 –  Pago Pago, American Samoa

Guests Ashore : 8:30 am  Guests Onboard : 3:00 pm Personal Navigator – Day 7 Time Change : Back 1 hour before bed.

Attire : Pirate or Cruise Casual

Drink of the Day :  Sunken Treasure  •  Non-Alcoholic :  Parrot Song

Day 8 – October 20, 2023 –  International Date Line (Lose Day)

Personal Navigator – Day 8 Time Change : Forward 24 hours before bed.

SHIP DATE ADVANCES FROM 10/19/23 TO 10/21/ DUE TO INTERNATIONAL DATE LINE CROSSING.

10/20/23 DAY WILL NOT EXIST

Day 9 – October 21, 2023 – At Sea

Personal Navigator – Day 9

Drink of the Day : Captain’s Mai Tai •  Non-Alcoholic :  Princess Delight

• Featured Act –  Jeremy Tan Magic

Day 10 – October 22, 2023 –  Suva, Fiji

Guests Ashore : 7:00 am  Guests Onboard : 3:00 pm Personal Navigator – Day 10 Time Change : Back 1 hour before bed.

Drink of the Day :  Cool Breeze  •  Non-Alcoholic :  Crazy Shake

• Triton’s :  Crossing
• Animator’s Palate :  Crossing
• Tiana’s Place :  Crossing
• Movie –  Haunted Mansion

Day 11 – October 23, 2023 – At Sea

Personal Navigator – Day 11

Attire : Semi-Formal

Drink of the Day :  High Tide  •  Non-Alcoholic :  Passion Cream Freeze

• Triton’s :  Pacific
• Animator’s Palate :  Pacific
• Tiana’s Place :  Pacific
• Featured Act –  The String Sirens: Musical Art

Day 12 – October 24, 2023 –  Nouméa, New Caledonia

Guests Ashore : 9:30 am  Guests Onboard : 6:15 pm Personal Navigator – Day 12

Drink of the Day : Pacific Rim •  Non-Alcoholic : Purple Basil Lemonade

• Triton’s :  Captain’s Gala Dinner
• Animator’s Palate :  Animator’s Palate – Animation Magic
• Tiana’s Place :  Tiana’s Place – Mardi Gras
• Featured Act –  The Fantastic Jeremy Penguin – Juggler

Day 13 – October 25, 2023 – At Sea

Personal Navigator – Day 13

Drink of the Day : Paradise •  Non-Alcoholic : Bora Shake

• Walt Disney Theatre Production – Crew Talent Show

Day 14 – October 26, 2023 – At Sea

Personal Navigator – Day 14

Drink of the Day : Pina Colava •  Non-Alcoholic : Virgin Mojito

• Walt Disney Theatre Production –  Disney Dreams – An Enchanted Classic

Buena Vista Theatre Movies

• Avengers: Endgame
• Avengers: Infinity War
• Black Panther
• Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
• Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
• Haunted Mansion
• Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
• The Devil Wears Prada
• The Little Mermaid
• The Princess Bride

Thank you “ R” and LG  for sharing details for this cruise. If you have any navigators you would be willing to share, please send me an email. If you would rather upload the files you can use our  upload form .

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3 Replies to “Personal Navigators: Disney Wonder 13-Night South Pacific Cruise from Honolulu to Sydney – October 13, 2023”

Thank you!!!!!!!

I am very excited to see these as we will be on the Sydney to Honolulu voyage in February. But I couldn’t get Day 12 Navigator to open. Is there another link for that day?

Hi Kris, The link has been corrected.

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Smooth sailing on a family Disney cruise: Review of Concierge level on the Disney Wonder

Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here .

Cruising with Disney , it seems, is even more fun the second time around -- especially with an upgrade to more spiffy quarters.

Almost a year ago, we had a successful sailing on the Disney Dream out of Florida, so we booked another Disney cruise to start 2020. This time we only needed a two-hour drive from home in Houston to hop aboard the ship in the Port of Galveston. No airplanes were involved on our journey across the sea to Mexico on the Disney Wonder, one of the two original ships in Disney's fleet. I can't overstate how fantastic it was to just drive to the port, board a ship and go. No TSA 3.4-ounce limits on liquids or the five-hour flight delays that had plagued our last few trips.

The Disney Wonder is noticeably smaller than the Disney Dream we sailed on previously. The Wonder has 875 cabins and room for up to 2,700 passengers, as opposed to the larger Dream's 1,250 staterooms and capacity for up to 4,000 guests. I was curious as to whether the smaller, older Disney ship would feel like a lesser experience.

For this cruise, we splurged on the Disney Concierge level in the hope of eliminating some of the disappointments of our first Disney cruise. To say I was excited for our trip is a dramatic understatement, and the experience largely lived up to my highest expectations.

FOR NO COST ASSISTANCE WITH PLANNING AND BOOKING YOUR NEXT DISNEY VACATION, CHECK OUT TPG'S DISNEY BOOKING PARTNER, MOUSE COUNSELORS .

Disney cruises are expensive and there aren't many ways to use points for booking, although you can certainly earn a ton of points by booking with the right credit card.

You can earn 3x points per dollar by putting the travel charge on your Chase Sapphire Reserve, which I did.

To use points on a Disney cruise, the easiest way is to make payments with a card that has fixed-value points you can use for travel . This includes the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (currently with a bonus of 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. (worth $750 in travel). Here are some additional tips for using points when booking a cruise .

Although deals and redemptions are scarce, you can purchase Disney gift cards at a discount and then use them toward your cruise. It won't cut the price in half, but you can save 5-10%, depending on available offers and how hard you work on stacking them.

Related: The best credit cards for booking cruises

If you have the Disney Visa , you can save on board with discounts on spa treatments, Castaway Cay packages and photo packages. You can also get a promotional 0% introductory APR for six months on select Disney vacation packages from the date of purchase charged to the card (then a variable APR of 19.24% to 28.24% applies), if you need a little breathing room to pay off all that shrimp and magic. However, in terms of earning or using points, the Disney Visa isn't actually the best card out there, even for a Disney cruise.

On our first Disney cruise, my family of four booked two connecting staterooms to meet our needs for sufficient sleeping quarters and living space. Two cabins aren't necessary for a family of four sailing on Disney, but they were necessary for my family's sanity. We don't sleep well crammed into one small area. On this cruise, my mom came to experience her first cruise while my husband took a different trip with his dad.

We wanted to try another approach to accommodations, so we booked a one-bedroom suite instead of two staterooms. To be clear, two staterooms on Disney are almost always going to be less expensive than a one-bedroom suite. We went this route, in part, to try out Concierge level.

For more TPG news and travel tips delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our free daily newsletter .

We've become fans of the website CruiseCompete. This site allows cruise shoppers to select the cruise that interests them and then travel agents "compete" for their business by submitting quotes via email. The base sailing price is typically the same from all sources, including Disney, but the perks and bonuses can and do vary. Our best offer was via Cruise Vacation Outlet. They offer a stateroom credit based on the cost of your cruise, which for us amounted to $750 in an onboard credit. The cruise was pricey -- very pricey -- but that's $750 we wouldn't have gotten if we'd booked directly with Disney.

Looking at prices for a similar four-night cruise from Galveston to Cozumel for next January, prices for a family of four start around $3,300 for an inside stateroom. A stateroom with a balcony starts at $3,800 and a Concierge-level stateroom starts at $5,700. A one-bedroom Concierge suite, like the one we booked, is pricing around $7,000 for the same itinerary next year -- which is about what we paid this year. These suites sleep four to five people, and are 614 square feet, including the balcony.

Related: Interesting way to save money on a Disney Cruise

Embarkation

We arrived in Galveston at 11 a.m. Both times I've cruised, I've been pretty confused about where to go, where to park, where to drop off the bags, etc. There are signs, but it is a little chaotic. Once we figured out where we were supposed to be, the magic began.

I dropped off the bags with Disney cruise tags that had been mailed to us after booking. (Our bags later appeared in the hall outside our stateroom a few hours after boarding.) I also dropped off my kids and Grandma so they didn't have to do the parking lot/shuttle shuffle with me. The nearest open parking lot in Galveston was not within reasonable walking distance of the ship, unlike when sailing Disney from Port Canaveral. After a quick trip back from the parking lot and paying $55 to park for four nights, we were all back together and ready to walk into the terminal. Note that not all parking lots at the Galveston Port Terminal accept guests sailing on Disney, so the official lot is probably your best bet.

Inside the terminal, guests are guided by cheerful employees wearing big white Mickey Mouse gloves. You go through a security check reminiscent of an airport, but with shorter lines and fewer restrictions.

Next up is the Disney Cruise Line check-in desk. This is where our Concierge perks kicked in. We were able to walk right up to a special section with no wait.

Related: What to pack for your first cruise

Our passports were checked again and we were given our "keys to the world." These keycards serve as room keys and ship IDs. They also provide kids club access and charging privileges on the ship. You don't have to wear them on a lanyard around your neck, but it's the easiest way to keep track of them. It wasn't until the end of the cruise that I realized our gold-colored cards meant Concierge level. This made them easy to spot by the crew as most of the keys are blue.

Once we were through all the formalities, we had a brief wait. The waiting areas aren't fancy, though Concierge guests do have their own area and can board first -- just after the Disney-selected "family of the day."

My family was the third to board the ship, at 11:45 a.m. This was hours earlier than we were able to board on our first Disney cruise . I think my mom was overwhelmed with excitement and about ready to cry, which was pretty awesome. She grew up near the water on the Gulf Coast, watching ships her whole life, but this was her first time to step foot on anything larger than a car ferry.

All families are greeted by name as they board a Disney cruise. We were immediately invited to have lunch in Tiana's restaurant, which was reserved for Concierge guests for this meal. However, we had other plans.

On our first Disney cruise, there was almost always a long line for the waterslide and the pools were crowded, so our goal was to enjoy those amenities first thing before the ship was full of more than 2,000 guests.

One quick stop for snacks in the Concierge lounge later, the girls changed into their swimsuits (kept in our carry-on bags) and away we went to start the fun.

Much more on the pools and slide later, but the plan worked. My two girls enjoyed the water features on this sailing for at least an hour and we didn't see another guest during that time.

Laugh if you want, but it was my turn to tear up when I saw our suite: Number 8048.

Regular Disney staterooms are more than fine (and we will probably opt for them when we are lucky enough to cruise with Disney), but the suite was special. Seeing it brought together months of anticipation about the voyage. Square footage is at a serious premium on a cruise ship, so to have two full rooms, two bathrooms and some extra nooks and crannies was really, really cool.

When you enter the suite, there is a bathroom with a toilet and shower immediately to your right.

On the left is a good-sized row of closets, drawers and shelves. This provides storage when the living portion becomes a bedroom.

Past the entry hallway, there is a dining table for four and wet bar with a minibar underneath stocked with soda and water. These are all included, so drink up. You can also refill it as much as you'd like from the large fridge in the Concierge lounge.

The couch was transformed into a bed each evening by the stateroom staff. They do their best to meet with you on the first day to find out what you prefer for sleeping arrangements.

The living room has its own balcony access and TV with Disney movies and shows on demand.

A sliding door separates the living area from the bedroom area. (The door was quite loud. Even in moderate seas, if you tried to shut it all the way, it banged in its tracks all night.)

The queen-size bed in the bedroom area was quite comfortable.There is room for luggage to be stored underneath. (Though that's not how I store luggage anymore .)

A twin-size bed is against the wall across from the TV and next to the queen bed.

Pro tip: You can ask your stateroom hosts to provide cartoon sheets for the twin-size beds.

Rounding out the bedroom is another door that opens onto the large veranda and a second TV.

Between the bedroom and the main bathroom area is a small, but extremely functional, desk area next to the main closet. We used this to store and charge all the electronics. It really helped keep the whole family's smaller items organized.

Finally, there is the master bathroom. The bath area off of the master bedroom features a full-size tub and vanity.

The shower and toilet occupy separate spaces in another section.

Bath amenities are provided in large bottles of the Disney's H2O+ line that you could move from the shower to the bathtub, as needed.

You can't talk about the stateroom without talking about the great stateroom hosts. They cleaned the room and put away the extra beds each morning. Then, while we were out to dinner and a show, they magically transformed it back into a clean, calm space for sleeping. Only once during the cruise did they accidentally try to work their magic while we were in the room -- and that was our fault because we changed dining times at the last minute so we could take a nap.

Overall, this space worked well for our party of four, but it is worth noting that on Deck 8 we heard a fair amount of noise at times, mostly from kids running on the outdoor Deck 9 area above. We were also able to hear when a young child in the room next to ours was crying, which thankfully was only a passing issue at times.

Ports of call

Our four-night itinerary on the Disney Wonder was:

• Galveston, Texas
• Cozumel, Mexico
• Return to Galveston

Our only true port of call was Cozumel, which I was excited to see. I love much of the beautiful Cancun/Playa del Carmen area but hadn't been to Cozumel.

Day 1: Galveston

We spent the first few hours on the ship playing in the pool, eventually enjoying the Concierge lunch in Tiana's, registering in the kid's clubs and exploring. Around 4 p.m. it was time for the fun to officially begin with the "Sail Away" party.

While my mom went to the front of the ship to watch us pull away from the dock, an important moment for her, the girls and I went to a singing, dancing, laughing character-fueled party on deck.

I highly recommend this show; it was a ton of pumped-up fun. We missed it on our first cruise, in part because we just hadn't fully settled into the ship yet.

Drinks are for sale everywhere on deck leading up to this party, if you want to raise a glass to the start of your vacation.

Day 2: At sea

If you follow our adventures, you may already know that my youngest daughter and I both are prone to motion sickness . We were both mostly unfazed by our first Disney cruise, but not this time.

On our first full day at sea, I felt like drunk death for the first half of the day despite being 100% sober. My youngest daughter didn't feel great either. The captain described the sea as moderate in his daily announcements, but when pool water doesn't stay in the pool because the waves are so big, I call it more than moderately yucky. The remedy was some time on deck and Dramamine.

With our sea legs a bit sturdier, it was time to meet some characters and take in a movie. On a Disney cruise, some characters (like the princesses) require advance free reservations, while others are available for walk-up meet-and-greets.

The classic princesses gather in the ship's main atrium while the Frozen princesses gather in a transformed Animator's Palate.

To see characters for whom you don't have reservations, you can beat the lines by having one adult stand near where the character's published appearance is (arrive 10-15 minutes early) and hold the place for the rest of the family to join.

Day 3: Cozumel

Using some of the $750 stateroom credit, I booked a port excursion through Disney that included three stops during our one port day in Mexico: Mayan ruins, Mayan chocolate and Playa Mia Beach Club. It was $55 for kids, $69 for adults and sounded great since it had a little bit of everything.

We met our group at 10:15 a.m. and left the ship with them by 10:30 a.m. The tour operator took the group on a 30-minute bus ride to the Mayan ruins.

There was plenty to see to entertain impatient children for an hour, but our tour guide did more talking in one or two spots than really guiding the group to explore the area. About halfway through our time, we peeled off from the main group so we could see more of the area, which was wise given our interests.

Next up was a 30- to 40-minute drive to the location of the chocolate and beach break. The chocolate was very good with many varieties available for tasting in the gift shop. My favorite part was a sample of homemade corn tortillas with mole sauce -- I wish there had been more opportunities like that on the tour.

Finally, after spending about $40 for chocolate bars to take home, we had 90 minutes at the Playa Mia Beach Club. Lunch was not included in our package, but it was close to 2 p.m. and we were hungry. By this point in the afternoon, the buffet looked less than great to me, so we ordered off the menu. The food was served in an area that could hold hundreds of people at one time and it wasn't great (the margarita was undrinkable and awful), but we survived.

The last hour of the excursion was spent in the pools and on the beach. We didn't fully explore the waterpark area, and the beach was less than glamorous.

I didn't love the way we spent our time on Cozumel. I didn't hate it either, but there probably are better beaches and much better food in the area. Our tour returned to the ship about 15 minutes before the all-aboard time, so almost as soon as we were back on the ship, we were pulling away from Cozumel.

Pirate Night is held aboard ship during the evening after spending the day in Mexico, making for a pretty full day. So full that we begged to change our dinner to the late dinner so we could work in a nap before the nighttime fun.

You want to go all-in on Pirate Night. Trust me, your kids will love it. The meals that evening are all pirate-themed, there are pirate games and then a big pirate show.

There's dancing, pirating, battling and eventually, a fireworks show. Full warning, though, this fun goes on way past normal bedtime, so plan ahead with naps.

Day 3: At sea

On the third day we spa-ed, saw another movie, did a tequila and margarita tasting and ate Mickey bars, lots of Mickey bars. We were legitimately on vacation.

The tequila and margarita tasting was in the Cadillac Bar and Lounge and wasn't quite what I had hoped for. It was much more tequila and much less margarita. Only go to this one if you are a fan of hard liquor, which I'm not.

Even if you are on a shorter cruise, be sure to devote a full day just to exploring the ship and enjoying movies and more. Other than the big-ish waves at first, I was thankful to have two sea days on this cruise; our first cruise had none.

You are paying a premium to cruise with Disney, so make the most out of what is included on the ship.

You don't actually have to get off the Disney ship at all to have a full family vacation. From basketball to pools and waterslides to shows to the spa to kids clubs and more -- there are tons and tons of amenities, most of which are included in your base sailing price.

Pools and slides

On the Disney Wonder, there are three main pool areas for guests. There's the adults-only pool, the main pool and a smaller kid-friendly pool nearest the waterslide and splash area. Children still in diapers are not permitted in the pools, but can go into the splash area with swim diapers.

Here's the thing: The pools are small and they aren't as useable as you might think. We headed straight for the pools as soon as we got onboard this time around to avoid the crowds we experienced on our first Disney cruise. That strategy worked great, and indeed that first hour was the only hour we spent in the pools on our cruise. I won't post the photo of what it looks like when 15 people are in one hot tub, but you can imagine it for yourself.

Not only did the pools and slide get much busier at times, but on our first full day at sea, the water essentially sloshed out of most of the pools because it was so choppy. As shown below, the waterslide was still open on that sea day, but the line stretched all the way down the stairs.

Only one person at a time can go down the slide and you must be 38 inches or taller. My 4-year-old was tall enough by several inches, but the solo-sliding requirement made her decide to stay in the splash zone.

The adult-pool area had lots of swimmers and hot-tubbers at some times but was generally less busy than the family areas.

There are four or five different kids clubs on the Disney Wonder, depending on how you count. The largest, busiest two clubs are the Disney Oceaneer Club and Lab -- designed for children ages 3-12.

The two clubs are on Deck 5 and are connected by a "secret" passageway. The clubs are free for kids in that age range, though they do need to be potty-trained and one-on-one care is not provided. These connected kids clubs have a slide, a video-game area, a Marvel-themed area, Andy's playroom area, craft areas, movies, games, activities and character visits.

Your child's exact location within the club is tracked with what looks like a Disney Magic Band, and you can check them in and out at will. The only time parents are allowed to actually hang out in this club is during designated open-house hours.

On our first cruise, my girls (then 3 and 9) had a blast in these clubs and begged to return together again and again. However, I made a strategic error this time.

The tween club, Edge, is for kids 11-14, but I made the mistake of discovering that 10-year-olds can go to Edge with parent approval. I gave that approval and then my 10-year-old never wanted to go back to the "little kid club." Ever. This created lots of heartache for my 4-year-old who felt left behind. As a result, kids club time for her was not nearly as easy a sell on this cruise.

My 10-year-old, however, never wanted to leave Edge; she enjoyed hanging with the "big kids." Note that Edge is a come-and-go space without a parental check-in process. We did have some issues with my daughter not being where I thought she would be courtesy of that newfound ship freedom.

Lesson learned: Perhaps you should hide the fact that 10-year-olds can visit Edge, especially if you have a younger child still in the main kids clubs.

For teens, there is also Vibe, for ages 14-17. Consider yourself warned: Once your kid gets a taste of the clubs for older children, they may want nothing to do with the more supervised clubs for the young ones.

There are two types of shows on the Disney Wonder, the nighttime Broadway-caliber shows and Disney movies. The nighttime shows are scheduled opposite your dining time. This means if you have early dinner, you go to the late show, and vice versa. Of course, you are free to mix this up by not going to your regular seating for dinner and instead ordering room service, going to a grab-and-go food station or the Cabanas buffet.

On our cruise, nighttime shows included "Golden Mickeys" and "Frozen" -- both of which are excellent.

The Walt Disney Theatre has open seating, so you should get there 15-20 minutes before shows start for better seats. But here's a problem for families: There's no way to enjoy meals in the regular dining rooms (which are very good), see the shows and get to bed at a reasonable hour.

Some pretty cool offerings, like Pirate Night, don't even start until 10 p.m. or later. This isn't a big deal the first day or two of the cruise, but by the end of the cruise, I saw full-scale meltdowns everywhere. I'd love to see more matinee showings of the nighttime shows so families can make the most of their cruise and still get kids to bed at reasonable times. This was offered once, with "Frozen," but typically those with early dinner times (like us) end up going to shows that don't start until 8:30 p.m.

One of my favorite things to do on a Disney cruise is see a movie. It feels luxurious to walk right in and enjoy a first-run movie. On this cruise they were showing movies such as "Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker," "Maleficent 2" and "Frozen 2." Those in Concierge level can pick up sodas in the lounge and free popcorn at the shop right outside the theater. Otherwise, a bucket of popcorn is about $3.50.

There are two movie theaters on the Disney Wonder and some of the showings are in 3-D.

The Senses Spa is located in the forward area of Deck 9 on the Disney Wonder, which means that parts of the spa -- like the salon area -- have some great unobstructed ocean views.

Although I've seen some discounts on the spa during port days in the past, I didn't notice any this time. However, we still had some of that stateroom credit to use, so we happily made a few spa appointments for the last full day of the cruise.

My 50-minute massage was, in short, exceptional. It's hard to judge a whole spa on one service, but it really was great.

The spa treatment room wasn't overly impressive, nor was the area where you change clothes and shower. In fact, there was a line for the two showers at one point. However, the treatment was good enough that I didn't care about the rest. A small warning: They will try to sell you products unless you make it clear you're not interested.

My mom and I also had shampoo/blow-dry appointments in the spa and we both enjoyed them.

If you want some relaxation without paying for full spa services, you can purchase access to the Rainforest area of the spa. During our cruise, it was $29 per day if you purchased access onboard. It is likely cheaper if you buy access online ahead of time. This will also protect you from a potential sell-out which wasn't an issue on this cruise, but can happen. You can also buy a multi-day pass if you want to make this a part of your daily cruising routine.

This tranquil room has heated stone loungers, aromatherapy steam and showers with different temperatures and pressures. But wait, there's more.

Since you're already at the spa, you can use the full-size showers in the spa dressing rooms to clean up instead of relying solely the smaller showers in your stateroom. Beware that there may be a wait for the changing-room showers as there are only two in the women's dressing area of the spa on the Disney Wonder. It is a solid option if you get claustrophobic and want a larger shower space.

Adult-only area

The spa isn't the only kid-free area on the Disney Wonder. You can also head to the Quiet Cove area located on Deck 9.

Here you'll find plenty of comfy lounge chairs, a main adult-only pool and two hot tubs.

There's also an adult coffee shop that transforms into a bar as the day goes on.

This is where you can get your cold brew fix each morning. If you plan to make multiple visits, pick up a frequent-sipper card that gives you a free specialty drink when you buy five on that particular cruise.

The beverages in this shop are sold for a fee, but the pastries in the display case are free.

Concierge lounge

I'm going to do a whole separate article on whether the Disney cruise Concierge level is worth it, so stay tuned for a deep dive into the service and access it conveys. But here's an overview of the lounge itself.

The Concierge lounge is open from 7 a.m.-10 p.m. and serves meals and snacks at the following times:

• Continental breakfast (7 a.m.-10:15 a.m.)
• Lunch snacks (11:00 a.m.-1:45 p.m.)
• Afternoon offerings (2:45 p.m.-4:15 p.m.)
• Dinner snacks (5:00 p.m.-8:15 p.m.)
• Dessert (9:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.)

For breakfast in the lounge you will often find smoked salmon, diced fruit, muffins, pastries and these truly addictive Mickey-shaped cinnamon rolls. There's also a great coffee machine and sugar cubes shaped like Mickey's head.

At lunch you'll generally find wraps, small sandwiches and single-serve desserts.

In the evening, there are complimentary beverages from 5 p.m.-10 p.m. This is a big deal as alcohol is not routinely complimentary anywhere else on the ship. The bartender on our ship knew everyone's name by the second evening and was a true joy to see each night.

During the evening (and during the day on the first day of the cruise), you have your pick of wine, liquor and beer. Available brands include, Tito's, Bombay Sapphire, Crown Royal, 1800, Jack Daniel's, etc.

For evening snacks, there are small salads, cheese, bread and more.

Having complimentary wine in the evening in a private lounge is pretty great. You can get a glass to take to dinner or your stateroom too.

Second perhaps to the adult beverages, my favorite lounge offering was the stocked fridge -- which you can raid. This means you can have drinks on hand in your stateroom, to take on excursions and enjoy around the ship. There's bottled water, sparkling water, Coke products, juice and juice boxes. I didn't count how many drinks we consumed over the course of a four-night cruise, but a couple dozen is a fair estimate.

A cool event in the Concierge lounge was a special meet-and-greet with a surprise Disney character after the Cozumel port day. On our cruise, the special character was Stitch, but I believe it varies from cruise to cruise. There was a line to meet the character, but it was no more than five minutes while we were there.

In addition to the main indoor area, the Concierge lounge on the Disney Wonder has a private bathroom just outside the entrance, as well as an upper-deck outdoor area that overlooks the adult-pool area.

Food and beverage

Main restaurants.

The Disney Wonder has three main restaurants. These are included in your cruising price and your serving team rotates with you each night. For example, they remembered that my oldest daughter likes barbecue sauce with virtually everything and had it ready at subsequent meals.

The newest restaurant option on the Disney Wonder is Tiana's, a New Orleans-themed restaurant.

This restaurant is an absolute party. We enjoyed shrimp and grits, lobster salad, beignets and way too much fluffy bread.

But that's not even the best part. The best part is the live music, dancing and general merry-making that is the theme of this restaurant.

We missed the main meal in Animator's Palate as we dined at the adults-only Palo that night. We were able to enjoy Animator's Palate during Pirate Night, but it's not the same experience. Rumor has it that the restaurant transforms from black and white to color as the main meal goes on. We'll have to catch it next time.

We enjoyed Animator's Palate during the pirate-themed night with shrimp, crab cakes, noodles, jerk chicken with red beans and rice ... and the requisite kid meal: macaroni with chicken strips. Your kids can order whatever they want from the menu, but my 4-year-old happily stuck to a narrow list of options.

All the restaurants were good, but Triton's was probably my least favorite. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't as fun or themed as the others. If you want to skip one, this is it.

Still, we managed to eat our weight in seafood.

As you are ordering your courses, know that on a Disney cruise, included dessert is never more than a request away. In fact, the servers often insist you at least try it. And in that case, we all know calories don't count.

Quick service

There are a multitude of included quick-service dining options -- pizza, chicken fingers, burgers, hot dogs, chili bowls, ice cream, salads, gyros and more. Basically, no one will ever go hungry.

For lunch, we usually went to the Cabanas buffet which is open for three meals per day -- plus late into the night on Pirate Night. Cabanas has everything from chicken fingers to ham, stir-fry, seafood, salad, fruit, calamari and dozens of other selections.

Room service

I'm a sucker for room-service breakfast and thankfully it's included for all guests on a Disney cruise. The only catch is that the menu is continental. Donuts, muffins, beverages and cereal are no problem, but there's nothing hot (or particularly healthy) on the included menu.

However, a perk of Concierge level is that Concierge guests can order from the Triton's breakfast menu and have hot items delivered to the room. We ordered omelettes, Mickey waffles, bacon, sausage, yogurt parfaits, hashbrowns and more.

Note that although normal room service was always delivered during the time I selected on the door hanger the night before, our one special room-service order from Triton's took a long time to arrive. That may be a fluke, but budget at least an hour for delivery. Once it arrived, it was perfect.

Last, but far from least, ordering ice cream Mickey bars from room service is a must-do. There's no fee for this (other than an optional tip) -- so your kids may want to make this a part of your daily cruise routine. Our oldest daughter learned how to order the bars herself on our previous cruise ... and put those skills to use on this one. (Just be careful what you wear when eating a melting Mickey bar -- something in these bars is very hard to get out of clothes.)

There's no better meal on the Disney Wonder than Palo. This is an 18-an-up restaurant that requires reservations and costs an additional $40 per person. We couldn't get into Palo on our first cruise as Disney newbies because it was already booked by passengers who had access to advance reservations. First-time cruisers are at the bottom of the advance-booking food chain. But this time, Concierge-level access made it happen, and with the kids together in the kids club (at my insistence) my mom and I dined so well that we went into a legit food coma.

Our reservation was at sunset, a visual treat. People also dress up more here, which raised the ambience a notch or two over Pirate Night.

The service was out-of-this-world exceptional. And the food, well, I'll crave it forever.

Palo is an Italian-themed restaurant. On the menu you'll find everything from heirloom tomatoes and mozzarella to tableside antipasti to grilled lobster with pasta, to calamari to handmade gnocchi to scallops to the best meat on the ship (per the chef) -- the prime beef tenderloin.

Every bite was rich and succulent, but my favorites were the butternut squash agnolotti and chocolate souffle (both shown below). Once you pay your $40 fee, you can order away at no additional charge, which can be quite the bargain considering some items on the list. What a wonderful experience this was.

Finally, the ship has bars and an entire area devoted to adults, though kids can enter some of these spaces at times. Outside Tiana's restaurant is the French Quarter Lounge which has live music in the evenings. Kids were welcome here during our visit, though the area was never busy when we stopped by.

There's an English pub, Crown & Fin, that was lively during some football playoff games. There's typically a selection of complimentary bar food at the buffet in this pub.

Also in the "After Hours" portion of the ship is the previously mentioned Cadillac Lounge, where we did the tequila tasting. There is some fun live piano and jazz here in the (kid-free) evenings.

Overall impression

There's a lot to take in on a four-night Disney cruise. Nothing is perfect, but our sailing was pretty darn awesome. It was admittedly very expensive, even by Disney standards. However, it was worth it. We had no worries, my mom got to come with us and it has even piqued the interest of my dad and extended family now taking their first cruises . As for me, it makes me think even bigger when it comes to cruising. Alaska is now on my radar, though likely not in Disney Concierge level as that would probably cost as much as a small car.

The Disney Wonder is a perfectly sized ship. It was large enough to keep us entertained for multiple days, but small enough that my 10-year-old could navigate it pretty well by the second day. The elevators were laughably small (we logged many flights of stairs), but otherwise it didn't feel small in any way.

I wouldn't hesitate to return to the Disney Wonder for this or a longer sailing. The only thing that may get in my way is the temptation of booking a sailing on the all-new Disney Wish when it enters the fleet.

Disney Cruise Line will no longer accept photocopies of guest birth certificates

FILE-A general view of the Disney Wonder cruise ship at Avalon harbor on October 26, 2022 in Avalon, California. (Photo by AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/Getty Images)

Guests that board the Disney Cruise Line will now have to provide an original copy of their birth certificate instead of a photocopy of the document. 

Disney Cruise Line emailed guests booked on upcoming "closed loop cruises" regarding the policy, which is posted on the company’s blog .

"For round trip sailings departing from the U.S., Guests using a birth certificate as citizenship documentation are reminded that only an original state-issued birth certificate is acceptable," the email reads. "Guests 16 years of age and older are also required to present a physical government-issued photo ID."

RELATED: Disney Cruise Line setting sail on first Asia-based ship in 2025

"Children 15 years of age and younger will need to present an original state-issued birth certificate but do not need to present a government-issued photo ID. Photocopies of birth certificates will not be accepted," the email concludes. 

These latest changes are detailed on the "passports, visas and citizenship documentation" page on the cruise line's website.

Cruises that begin and end in the same location are considered "round-trip" or "closed-loop," meaning they begin and end at the same port in the United States and travel within the Western Hemisphere, per the Disney Cruise Line blog. 

FOX Business noted that Disney Cruise Line is expanding and expects to launch more routes from international destinations as it continues to target families in the cruise market. 

In June, the company announced it would be setting sail from Singapore in 2025 with the Disney Adventure.  

Disney Cruise Line started in 1998 and currently sails to locations in the Bahamas, Caribbean, Europe, Alaska, Mexico, Canada, Hawaii, the South Pacific, Australia, and New Zealand, with a fleet of five ships – the Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy and Disney Wish, according to FOX Business. 

Disney Treasure, the sixth ship, will set sail this winter from Port Canaveral, Florida, for a seven-night eastern Caribbean cruise. 

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South Pacific: South Pacific Cruise

14-night disney wonder cruise.

From $2,664 per person* Includes government taxes, fees and port expenses of $260 per person

Disney Cruise Line

Relax into island time as you voyage across the South Pacific on a wondrous Polynesian adventure. While sailing the high seas, delight in the world-famous entertainment, fun-filled recreation and spectacular themed dining experiences only Disney can create.

Included Extras

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Executive Members receive an annual 2% Reward, up to $1,250, on qualified Costco Travel purchases

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Member Exclusive: Digital Costco Shop Card, courtesy of Costco Travel, with every Disney Cruise Line sailing†

Sailing Itinerary

Note: Cruise itineraries are subject to change. Please verify ports and times directly with the cruise line.

Port of Call Port of Call (Arrival, Departure)

Sydney/Australia

Sydney is Australia's largest and most cosmopolitan city and is the capital of New South Wales, the most heavily populated state of Australia. Sydney is situated on one of the world's most beautiful and famous harbours. Sydney also boasts beautiful beaches, fantastic shops, restaurants, history and culture. Sydney's many highlights include the Harbour Bridge, the Opera House, Centrepoint Tower, The Rocks, the stunning harbour and the white sands of Bondi, Manly and beyond. Sydney is also home to beautiful National Parks, the Royal Botanic Gardens, many harbour front picnic locations and heritage areas.

Noumea is the capital and largest city of the French special collectivity of New Caledonia. It is situated on a peninsula in the south of New Caledonia's main island, Grande Terre, and is home to the majority of the island's European, Polynesian, Indonesian, and Vietnamese populations, as well as many Melanesians, Ni-Vanuatu and Kanaks who work in one of the South Pacific's most industrialised cities. The city lies on a protected deep water harbour which serves as the chief port for New Caledonia.

Almost any time of the year is an excellent time to visit Suva. There are so many things happening. Suva, the capital city of Fiji, the thumb of the Pacific, is the place of many happenings. For tourists, the day really begins at about 6pm. Before this, it's best to laze around a swimming pool with a cocktail or go walking or shopping around the city. Suva comes alive at night. This is when live local bands or the current overseas hit songs fill the air. Suva has about 25bars/nightclubs and all are walking distance from each other to make for an ideal pub-crawling night. Suva is a city of colors. While neon lights from the night clubs brighten the nights, the people of Suva brighten up the day. Suva is a city with rich and diverse cultures. It has a multiracial population mix comprised mainly Fijians, Indians, Europeans, Chinese and South Pacific Islanders. People are friendly and always willing to help with directions. So if you are lost, don't hesitate to ask. The locals will help with a smile. There are lots of things to do, see and buy. There are many churches, temples, mosques, bush-walks and gardens. Suva has a botanical garden at the eastern end of town. This is also where Fiji Museum is located. Next to these is the home of the President of the Republic of Fiji.

Crossing the International Dateline

Pago Pago Harbor

Pago Pago Harbor, a collapsed volcanic caldera is one of the largest natural harbors in the South Pacific. It cuts deeply into the south-central coast almost dividing the island in two. From east to west, a steep mountainous spine runs the 20-mile length of the island, punctuated in places by notable summits including Matafao Peak, Tutuila's tallest mountain at 2,142 feet; North Pioa Mountain, popularly known as Rainmaker Mountain, 1,718; and Mount 'Alava, the steep ridgeline looming to the north of Pago Pago Harbor, marking the south boundary of the park area. Mount Alava lies to the north of Pago Pago Harbor. A hiking trail along the maintenance road leads to the 1610 foot summit.

Nawiliwili is located on the southeastern coast of the island of Kauai between Lihue and Nawiliwili Bay along Highway 51 near Ninini Point and the Huleia Stream.Kaua'i is divided into five major districts, or moku 'aina. Nawiliwili Bay is located in the moku 'aina of Puna on the southeastern coast. One meaning of puna is spring, and Puna has an abundance of springs and streams caused by its location on the windward side of the island. Around 1000 A.D., settlers from the Marquesas arrived, led by Punanuikaia'aina. He succeeded in creating a chiefdom independent of Kona in Puna.

Anyone lucky enough to be going to Honolulu doesn't have to give a reason for going. They can just say, "We're going to Honolulu," and imagination will take care of the rest. Moreover, Honolulu can probably live up to and even surpass whatever we imagine. World-famous beaches and tropical weather set the scene for an amazing mix of Pacific cultures in this Hawaiian capital. There is a reason why Hawaii is consistently rated as one of the nation's top travel destinations; in fact, there are several of them. Waikiki Beach is the center of activity for Hawaii's biggest industry: tourism. This is one of the world's greatest resort playgrounds, featuring some of the most beautiful beaches and hotels in the world. Visitors from all over the world flock here to enjoy the sun, the sand and the incredible nightlife. Besides the beaches, visitors to Honolulu can take tours of the countryside surrounding the downtown area. These tours are amazing, bringing visitors to some of the most beautiful rainforests and volcanoes in the world. Animal and plant life are abundant, and the scenery is unsurpassed. A five-minute car ride from Honolulu brings visitors into some of Nature's most beautiful and awe-inspiring sights. Several museums, including the Bishop Museum, combine exhibits on Hawaiian natural history with lessons about history and culture of its many diverse peoples. The Waikiki Aquarium is the third oldest public aquarium in the United States, and it features many of Hawaii's most interesting sea animals. The Honolulu Zoo also features some of the unique mammals, birds, and reptiles that inhabit the forests just outside of the city. The history of Hawaii is very rich, as the islands have always attracted many different people. Visitors can tour the Iolani Palace, the residence of the last of the Hawaiian monarchs. They can also visit Honolulu's Chinatown, which is more authentic than many of its mainland counterparts. They can also visit the Arizona Memorial, commemorating the destruction of the battleship Arizona during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor that brought America into World War II. Honolulu exhibits the best of Hawaii in every way. From its famous beaches to its incredible natural preserves, this town has attracted millions of people from around the world. Many of those visitors stayed, helping to make Hawaii one of the most cosmopolitan and diverse places to visit in the United States. Anyone lucky enough to be going to Hawaii knows that he won't be disappointed.

Onboard the Disney Wonder

Disney Wonder

Costco member reviews.

• Year Built: 1999
• Year Refurbished: 2016

Double Occupancy Capacity: 1754

Disney Wonder pays homage to the timeless style of the past while embracing the contemporary. Experience Disney's traditions of extraordinary family entertainment and superb service while you ride the waves.

Member reviews become available after at least 5 are received in order to provide you with an accurate picture of this travel product.

Onboard Activities

Activities & services (included in cruise).

Goofy's Pool

• Disco/Nightclub
• Game Arcade
• Theater/Show Lounge
• Fitness Center
• Sauna/Steam Room
• Pool - Adults Only
• Pool - Children's
• Pool - Outdoor
• Sports Facilities
• Water Park Arena
• Water Slide
• Whirlpool/Jacuzzi
• Bars/Lounges
• Children's Outdoor Play Area
• Organized Age Specific Activities
• Teen Center or Disco
• Teen Programs
• Business Center
• Concierge Desk
• Duty-Free Shops/Boutiques
• Safe Deposit Boxes

Activities & Services (available for an extra fee)

• Beauty Salon
• Full-Service Spa
• Internet Center
• Babysitting
• Dry Cleaning/ Laundry Service
• Infirmary/Medical Center
• Self-Service Laundromat

Main Dining

Rotational Dining:  The Disney Cruise Line method for making sure each guest experiences each themed dining environment onboard. Every evening you dine with the same tablemates and have the same servers as you "rotate" to one of the three main restaurants: Animator's Palate, Tiana's Place, and Triton's. You will be given your schedule when you board, so you'll know exactly when you'll enjoy the unique atmosphere of each restaurant.

Animator's Palate:  Inspired by the magic of Disney animation, this spacious yet stylized restaurant is filled with everything you'd expect to find inside an actual animator's studio. Character sketches, maquettes, light boxes, paint brushes, computer work stations and other tools of the animation trade delightfully decorate the venue; and scenes and characters from popular Disney films adorn the walls—creating a one-of-a-kind experience.

Tiana's Place:  Guests of Tiana's Place, the restaurant inspired by Princess Tiana in the Disney animated feature, "The Princess and the Frog," will be treated to a celebration of New Orleans dining and entertainment. Live music will be performed on the main stage, with rhythmic, toe-tapping notes of jazz, swing and blues setting the tone for the French Quarter supper club atmosphere. Chefs will cook up Tiana's recipes, drawing inspiration from the flavors and ingredients of the Louisiana bayou. Tiana's personal touch will be evident in the menu, the entertainment and throughout every detail in the restaurant. From Tiana's family photos to water lily-shaped candleholders to her framed culinary awards—all will help tell the timeless tale of Tiana's journey from waitress to frog to princess to proud restaurant owner.

Triton's:  This grand ballroom recalls a transatlantic ocean liner with a dazzling Art Deco theme. It brims with ornate chandeliers, stained glass walls and a mural with an "under the sea" theme. Enjoy a 4-course dinner with a distinct French-inspired twist.

Specialty Dining

Royal Court Royal Tea:  Lady Chamomile, Chef Brule and some popular Disney princesses welcome you to a dining celebration in your honor. Enjoy a whimsical teatime in an idyllic storybook setting adorned with sparkling chandeliers and fanciful icons. The Royal Tea Hostess and Royal Pastry Chef are pleased to make your acquaintance and encourage you to join in the fun as they sing, dance and regale you with stories. Feel like royalty - and delight in a very special meet-and-greet with some favorite Disney princesses!

Palo:  Experience elegant dining in an intimate atmosphere exclusively for adults. Engage every one of your senses with the sweeping ocean view, unsurpassed service and inspired Northern Italian specialties. This restaurant is available for an additional cost.

Pete's Boiler Bites

Casual Dining

Beach Blanket Buffet:  Delight in this tasty, tempting buffet for a casual breakfast and lunch. Choose to enjoy your meal in the lively indoor area or the open air of the dazzling deck.

Pinocchio's Pizzeria:  Savor the flavor of real Italian pizza: traditional cheese, pepperoni and a scrumptious special every day — along with tasty tropical drinks for the entire family.

Daisy’s de-Lites:  Indulge those between-meal cravings at this poolside eatery serving flavorful food items that are both well-balanced and delicious. Choose from salads, sandwiches, wraps and fruit—health-conscious treats sure to satisfy the pickiest of palates.

Pete's Boiler Bites:  Sink your paws into a scrumptious selection of tasty treats at this breezy eatery. Featuring classic American fare like burgers, hot dogs and tacos, Pete's Boiler Bites is a great place to enjoy a quick meal for lunch, dinner or anytime in between.

Eye Scream Treats:  Named after the friendly, one-eyed monster Mike Wazowski from the Disney·Pixar animated feature Monsters, Inc., this breezy eatery offers such a scary selection of soft-serve ice cream and spook-tacular toppings, you won’t believe your eye!

Room Service:  Complimentary 24-hour dining in the comfort of your stateroom.

Disclaimer regarding ship dining

• > Inside Stateroom
• > Ocean View Stateroom
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Enjoy more space than you'd find on most other cruise ships in a room with custom-designed furnishings and charming nautical appointments.

Standard Inside Stateroom (Category: 11C)

• Category 11A: Decks 6 and 7
• Category 11B: Decks 5 and 6
• Category 11C: Deck 2
• Sleeps: 3 to 4
• Size: 184 sq. ft.
• Room Configuration: queen bed, single sleeper sofa and upper-berth pull-down bed (if sleeping 4)
• View: no exterior view
• Custom Premium Plush Euro-top mattress
• Frette® 300-thread-count, 100%-cotton linens
• Premium bath towels
• 28" LCD flat-screen TV with remote control
• Full-length mirror
• Ample closet space
• Refrigerator
• In-room safe
• Phone with voicemail messaging
• Individual climate control
• Porthole mirror
• Signature spa, bath, and shower products
• Wi-Fi (additional fee)
• A sitting area with a couch, TV, and desk
• A heavy privacy curtain to separate the sitting and sleeping areas
• A full bathroom with a vanity, sink, shower, and tub
• Elevated wooden bed frames for under-bed storage of suitcases and other large items
• Attractive yet functional cabinetry in the living area

All this plus unparalleled Disney service at any and all hours is bound to make your stay a true pleasure.

Standard Inside Stateroom (Category: 11B)

Standard inside stateroom (category: 11a), deluxe inside stateroom (category: 10c).

• Category 10A: Decks 5, 6 and 7
• Category 10B: Deck 2
• Category 10C: Decks 1 and 2
• Size: 214 sq. ft.
• Room Configuration: queen bed, single sleeper sofa, upper berth pull-down bed (if sleeping 4)
• View: no exterior view (in all but the following: staterooms 5020, 5022, 5024, 5520, 5522, 5524, 6006 and 6506, which feature obstructed views)
• A "split bath": a bathroom with a vanity, sink, shower and tub and a half bathroom with a vanity, sink, and toilet (in all but accessible staterooms)

Deluxe Inside Stateroom (Category: 10B)

Deluxe inside stateroom (category: 10a), inside stateroom with restrictions (category: igt).

Category: IGT This category can be booked for a special rate, guaranteed to you. Please note that the category is not associated at the time of booking with a specific stateroom, deck, bedding configuration or other particular settings. The assignment of an actual cabin will be performed during your check-in. The cabin can be anywhere on the ship.

Enjoy a view of the ocean in this stunning stateroom. Well-designed interiors provide ample living space and a split bath.

Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom (Category: 09D)

• Category 9A: Decks 5, 6 and 7
• Category 9B: Deck 2
• Category 9C: Deck 2
• Category 9D: Deck 1
• Room Configuration: queen bed, single sleeper sofa and upper berth pull-down bed (if sleeping 4)
• View: One large porthole window or 2 small porthole windows (in Category 9D staterooms)

Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom (Category: 09C)

Deluxe oceanview stateroom (category: 09b), deluxe oceanview stateroom (category: 09a), oceanview stateroom with restrictions (category: ogt).

Category: OGT This category can be booked for a special rate, guaranteed to you. Please note that the category is not associated at the time of booking with a specific stateroom, deck, bedding configuration or other particular settings. The assignment of an actual cabin will be performed during your check-in. The cabin can be anywhere on the ship.

Tasteful décor, an expansive view, plush bedding and a private balcony make this stateroom your home-away-from-home.

Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Navigator's Verandah (Category: 07A)

• Category 5A: Deck 7
• Category 5B: Decks 6 and 7
• Category 5C: Decks 5 and 6
• Category 6A: Decks 5, 6 and 7
• Category 7A: Decks 5, 6, and 7; enclosed verandah with limited views
• Size: 268 sq. ft., including verandah
• View: private verandah
• Patio furniture
• Deck lighting
• Plexiglas® or solid whitewall railings (in Category 6A staterooms)
• Childproof locks

Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah (Category: 06A)

Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah (Category: 05C)

Deluxe oceanview stateroom with verandah (category: 05b), deluxe oceanview stateroom with verandah (category: 05a), deluxe family oceanview stateroom with verandah (category: 04e).

• Size: 304 sq. ft., including verandah
• Room Configuration: queen bed, single sleeper sofa, wall pull-down bed and upper berth pull-down bed
• Plexiglas® or solid whitewall railings (in Category 4E staterooms)

Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah (Category: 04B)

Deluxe family oceanview stateroom with verandah (category: 04a), verandah stateroom with restrictions (category: vgt).

Category: VGT This category can be booked for a special rate, guaranteed to you. Please note that the category is not associated at the time of booking with a specific stateroom, deck, bedding configuration or other particular settings. The assignment of an actual cabin will be performed during your check-in. The cabin can be anywhere on the ship.

Opulent suites feature a tasteful design, upgraded amenities, a private balcony, a whirlpool tub, a rain shower and a vanity mirror with a built-in TV.

Concierge Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah (Category: 03A)

• Room Configuration: queen bed, single sleeper sofa, upper berth pull-down bed and wall pull-down bed
• Premium Frette® bath towels
• 24" LCD flat-screen TV, with remote control
• Digital clock with 2 USB charging ports
• Elemis® Body Exotics bath, shower, and spa products
• Down Duvets: Enjoy a superlative night's sleep with the softness of genuine feather duvets, featured in Concierge main bedrooms.
• Guests of our Concierge Suites may choose from pillow options including hypoallergenic, feather, and therapeutic memory foam.
• Personal Robe and Slippers: These plush comforts are yours to use for the duration of your cruise.
• Complimentary 24-Hour Wi-Fi Internet Service: Enjoy Basic Surf Wi-Fi for each Guest in the stateroom at no extra charge. (Usage fees apply after the 24-hour package expires.)
• A "split bath": a bathroom with a vanity, sink, shower and round tub and a half bathroom with a vanity, sink, and toilet
• Plexiglas® or solid whitewall railings
• Port Adventures
• Reservations for Palo, spa treatments, or nursery stays
• Dining room seating requests
• Special occasions and celebrations
• Any other special requests, from pre-arrival to post-cruise
• Reservations (Port Adventures, Palo dining, spa treatments, and nursery stays)
• Dining reservation confirmations and changes
• Priority tendering in ports of call
• Updates to your personal itinerary
• Special occasions and celebration planning

From the Lounge, Concierge Guests can access a sun deck via a private entrance. Soak up the sun at this VIP onboard oasis and savor tranquil breezes in cushioned lounge chairs.

Concierge 1-Bedroom Suite with Verandah (Category: 02B)

• A separate bedroom
• 1.5 bathrooms, including a main with a whirlpool tub
• Living room
• Wet bar stocked with water and sodas
• Walk-in closet
• Media library access
• Size: 614 sq. ft., including verandah
• Room Configuration: 1 bedroom with queen bed; double sleeper sofa in living room; wall pull-down single bed in living room (in staterooms 8032, 8034, 8532 and 8534) or bedroom (in staterooms 8022, 8046, 8048, 8078, 8080, 8086, 8522, 8548 and 8582) in all but staterooms 8100, 8102, 8600 and 8602
• View: private verandah with floor-to-ceiling windows
• High-definition LCD flat-screen TV
• Couch, desk and chair
• Dining table
• Complimentary Wi-Fi Internet Service: Enjoy the Basic Surf Wi-Fi package for each Guest in the suite for the length of the voyage at no extra charge.
• In-suite dining from our concierge in-suite dining menu. 

Concierge 1-Bedroom Suite with Verandah (Category: 02A)

Concierge 2-bedroom suite with verandah (category: 01b).

• 2 separate bedrooms
• 2.5 bathrooms, including a main with a whirlpool tub
• 2 walk-in closets
• Size: 945 sq. ft., including verandah
• Room Configuration: 2 bedrooms: main with queen bed, second with two twin beds and upper berth pull-down bed; double sleeper sofa in living room
• View: private verandah with floor-to-ceiling windows in main living space
• 2 high-definition LCD flat-screen TVs (1 in the living room, 1 in the main bedroom)
• Guests of our Concierge Suites may choose from pillow options including hypoallergenic, feather, and therapeutic memory foam..
• Plexiglas® or solid whitewall railings and dividers
• In-suite dining from our concierge in-suite dining menu

Concierge Royal Suite with Verandah (Category: 01A)

• Open dining salon
• Pantry and wet bar stocked with water and sodas
• Size: 1,029 sq. ft., including verandah
• Room Configuration: 2 bedrooms: main with king bed, second with 2 single beds and 2 pull-down upper berths; wall pull-down bed in living room
• Frette® 1000-thread-count, 100% cotton linens
• 4 high-definition LCD flat-screen TVs (located in main bedroom, second bedroom, living room and media room)
• Complimentary Wi-Fi Internet Service: Enjoy the Premium Surf Wi-Fi package for each Guest in the suite for the length of the voyage at no extra charge.
• Plexiglas® railings and dividers

• Ship Name: Disney Wonder
• Year Entered Present Fleet: 1999
• Ship Class: Magic
• Maximum Capacity: 2,713
• Number of Passenger Decks: 11
• Number of Crew: 950
• Officers' Nationality: International
• Ocean-View without Balcony: 237
• Ocean-View with Balcony: 362
• Total Inside Staterooms: 256
• Tonnage (GRT): 84,000
• Capacity Based on Double Occupancy: 1,754
• Country of Registry: The Bahamas
• Total Staterooms: 875
• Suites with Balcony: 22
• Crew/Hotel Staff Nationality: International

Available Dates & Prices

Departure date, inside stateroom, ocean view stateroom, balcony stateroom, suite stateroom, departure date - 02/10/2025.

*Price shown is per person based on double occupancy and is valid for select stateroom categories only. Click on the Terms & Conditions link below for details.

†This cruise includes a Digital Costco Shop Card that will arrive by email approximately 10 days after the start of your cruise. The exact amount of the Digital Costco Shop Card will be calculated during the booking process. The Digital Costco Shop Card promotion is nontransferable and may not be combined with any other promotion. To receive your Digital Costco Shop Card, bookings must be made directly through Costco Travel. Bookings made through Disney Cruise Line or the Disney onboard cruise consultant must be transferred to Costco Travel's reservation system to qualify for the Digital Costco Shop Card. Click on the Terms & Conditions link below for additional information.

Ship Registry: The Bahamas

As to Disney's artwork, properties and logos: ©Disney

Digital Costco Shop Card

This booking includes a Digital Costco Shop Card which will arrive by email one to two weeks after you return from your vacation. The Digital Costco Shop Card is a convenient payment option in our warehouses and on Costco.com.

Ship Rating

An outstanding luxury cruise experience with an exceptional level of attention to detail. Expect superb service from all levels of officers and staff.

A very good quality all-around cruise experience aboard a ship that offers a range of facilities and services.

A decent, unpretentious cruise experience, with a moderate amount of space and quality in furnishing and fittings.

A modest quality cruise experience with less attention to detail and service.

Expect a very basic cruise experience with minimal attention to service, hospitality and finesse.

Offers some, but not all, of the amenities and services associated with the next highest star rating.

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