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- I’ve taken two vacations on the Disney Wish from Florida to the Bahamas.
- The boat has 15 decks filled with restaurants, shops, theaters, and more.
- There are also adult-only spaces and a Disney theme park ride on board the massive ship.
If I could snap my fingers and be anywhere right now, I’d be on a Disney Wish cruise.
I took my first voyage on the ship in 2022 — my first cruise vacation — and returned the following year for a second trip.
The vessel is one of Disney’s largest and most modern ships, with themed bars, an outdoor theme park ride, upscale restaurants, and more.
Here’s what it’s like on board.
Disney Cruise Line is known for its family-friendly ships that sail around the world.
The Wish began sailing in July 2022. The 1,119-foot ship has 15 decks and can carry 4,000 passengers at a time.
The Wish is one of Disney’s largest cruise ships to date.
It’s significantly longer and wider than the Disney Magic, which measures 984 feet long and can carry 2,713 passengers.
It will only be topped by the Disney Adventure, which will set sail for the first time in December.
I’ve taken both a 3-day trip and a 4-day vacation on the Disney Wish.
My first cruise experience was a three-day cruise on the Wish in September 2022. I was immediately blown away by how massive the ship was.
There are 15 decks on board the Disney Wish.
When you first step onto the ship, you’re ushered into the Grand Hall on deck three.
This opulent main deck is inspired by Cinderella.
It has gem-encrusted banisters, a winding staircase, a stage for performances, and a balcony where you can find princesses greeting passengers.
It’s also home to an intimate, adults-only piano bar called Nightingale’s.
The location was inspired by Cinderella’s song “Oh, Sing Sweet Nightingale.” Visitors can listen to live music and order bubble-themed drinks.
If you prefer “Star Wars” over princesses, you’ll want to visit the Hyperspace Lounge.
The space-inspired bar is open to all travelers during the day, but becomes an adult-exclusive spot after 9 p.m.
My favorite bar was called The Bayou.
Inspired by “The Princess and the Frog,” the bar is the ultimate place to listen to live music, order beignets, and enjoy special drinks.
In between drinks, you can browse an array of high-end stores.
The various shops sell handbags, diamond jewelry, and other luxury items.
The elevators that bring you between decks are surprisingly luxurious.
You stand on princess-themed carpets outside, and then enter to find gold-flaked mirrors and marble floors.
Twice a day, the Walt Disney Theatre hosts Broadway-level performances.
On the Wish, that includes productions of “The Little Mermaid” and “Aladdin.” You can’t take photos during the shows, but they’re both visually stunning and fun to attend.
Outside the Walt Disney Theatre, you can purchase snacks like soda and popcorn.
During my trip, each bucket cost $3. You could also buy a popcorn bucket for a higher price and get cheaper refills.
One of the ship’s rotational dining restaurants, 1923, is also found on deck three.
The location is inspired by Disney animation and the start of the Walt Disney Company. Inside, you’ll find character sketches, movie props, and more.
When you head up to deck four, you’ll find guest services.
There was usually a long line during my trip, but it moved quickly.
While you’re waiting, you can enjoy beverages from the Wishing Star Café.
The tiny coffee spot is subtly inspired by “Pinocchio” both in name and decor.
Next door is a salon for young travelers: the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique.
There, children can get makeovers to look like princesses, princes, or ship captains.
Travelers of all ages can go to Luna for fun activities.
The lounge offers family-friendly activities during the day and games like bingo for adults at night. We also attended an adults-only silent disco there, which was a highlight of our trip.
Or you can visit one of two movie theaters to watch newly-released Disney movies.
One theater is inspired by “Alice in Wonderland,” and the other is “Peter Pan”-themed.
One of the ship’s main restaurants is also on deck four.
Called Worlds of Marvel, the interactive spot offers food from Marvel movies, an appearance from Ant-Man, and more unique experiences.
On deck five, you can stop by the Enchanted Sword Café for a treat.
It’s set up exactly like the Wishing Star Café, but with a “The Sword in the Stone” theme.
Or you can stop by Mickey’s Mainsail, a massive gift shop.
During both of my trips on board the Wish, I found clothes, children’s toys, collectible pins, toiletries, and holiday merchandise, among other products.
My favorite spot on this deck was Keg & Compass.
The nautical bar was created with so many fun details, like Disney-themed maps on the ceilings and wood-carved portholes.
For dinner on deck five, you’ll experience a one-of-a-kind restaurant called Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure.
The space looks exactly like the setting of the beloved movie, and fan-favorite characters like Elsa sing as you dine. Between the food and entertainment, it’s my favorite restaurant on board.
Decks six through 10 are where you’ll find staterooms.
I stayed in the least expensive room, which cost $2,707.52 and had no window.
Our room measured 169 square feet.
It had a lifted queen bed, pullout couch, closet, vanity, and TV, among other amenities. I loved the small space.
Even our bathroom was nice.
It had a decent-sized tub, brightly lit walls, and a good amount of shelf space.
My favorite part of the stateroom decks was the art that lined the walls.
Each floor had pieces from different movies, like “The Princess and the Frog” and “The Little Mermaid.”
During a walking tour of the ship, an employee said more than 4,000 pieces from artists around the world were on board.
Deck 11 is the place to go when you want a dip in the pool.
Fair warning, though, the pools were always crowded when I visited. I never went in, but they did look fun.
The pools face a giant outdoor TV screen, which, when I visited, played movies like “Cruella” and “Halloweentown.”
I often found people watching Disney movies while lounging in the nearby pools.
The spot I visited most on deck 11 was the Mickey and Friends Festival of Foods market.
At its various food stands, you could get everything from personal pizzas to barbecue — all included in your trip fare.
For dessert, I’d visit the “Inside Out”-inspired spot Joyful Sweets.
There, you can buy pastries, ice cream, and some candy. I indulged in all of the above and thought they were all delicious.
If you want to switch things up, Marceline Market is another breakfast and lunch option.
There were more food options here, but the hours were more limited, so I only ate at Marceline Market once each trip.
There are smaller pools on deck 12.
Though you can see them from the lower level, they’re technically on a different deck. These tiny pools were often crowded during open hours.
This deck is also where you’ll find the Hero Zone activity center.
The indoor spot offers an inflatable, “Incredibles”-themed obstacle course multiple times per day. Children and adults can partake.
I can tell you from experience, the course is more intense than it looks.
The Rose is an elegant “Beauty and the Beast”-themed bar.
It offers stunning ocean views during the day and a cozy, romantic vibe at night.
If you’re looking for a thrill, head up to deck 13 for the AquaMouse.
The attraction is Disney’s first theme park ride on a cruise ship. It’s a quick ride, but lots of fun.
Adults can get away at the Cove Café and the adjacent pool.
There was a lot of private seating in this section, so my sister and I enjoyed a drink here away from children and families on board.
The only decks I didn’t visit were one, two, and 15.
The lowest level is home to the health clinic, and the second has a nursery and children’s club, which you can access by stairs or slide.
The 15th deck, on the other hand, is reserved for those who book the luxury Tower Suite, which can cost upward of $30,000 per trip.
Overall, the Disney Wish is huge, with countless spots to explore.
After spending three days on board, you might just feel like you want three more to experience everything.
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