5 things to do on Disney’s Wish cruise ship
set sail on the Wish, Disney Cruise Line’s fifth ship, with a magical feeling.
Mickey and Minnie Mouse greeted us as we boarded. The costumed staffers mesmerized my young children, who had been begging to meet the Disney characters for months leading up to the trip.
We probably could have returned home satisfied at that point. The children were giddy and happy, but there was so much more in store as we departed Port Canaveral, Fla., for the Bahamas.
The ship bustled with families and a surprising number of adults traveling without children because they loved the Disney cruise experience so much. I was told by several parents who had cruised on other Disney ships that this would be the ultimate family vacation — a place where I could safely drop of the kids to play and explore, while I took a nap or had a massage.
The Wish, which was christened last summer, is the company’s largest ship, with 1,254 staterooms for 4,000 passengers; most of the rooms have ocean views. With a crew of 1,555, it’s also its first new Disney cruise ship in a decade.
I had cruised before, previously on Royal Caribbean, once to the Bahamas and then to the Mediterranean, so I had high expectations for a luxury experience. Disney’s Wish didn’t disappoint.
Kids’ paradise
Families are the focus on any Disney cruise, but being on the Wish was extra special. Everything was shiny and new.
There are dedicated clubs for kids of various ages, starting with It’s a Small World Nursery for those 6 months old to 3 years old. It has a whimsical playroom with a toy train along the ceiling.
Next is Disney’s Oceaneer Club, for ages 3 to 12. That’s where mine played for hours each day. With so many people onboard, security was my biggest concern, but the ship had such a tight process for checking in and checking out children that I didn’t worry. All staff were Disney-trained counselors.
One of my toddler son’s favorite parts was jumping onto the spiral slide on the Grand Hall on Deck 3 that dropped him securely right into the club, which has spacious interactive playrooms where children could do arts and crafts, play dress-up or play with games, as well as watch Disney movies. The club also has the Walt Disney Imagineering Lab, the Marvel Super Hero Academy, New Adventures
at Star Wars: Cargo Bay and Fairytale Hall.
Children ages 11 to 14 can hang out at the Edge, which had a cool, New York loft vibe. There is even a photo wall for selfies. For ages 14 to 17, the Vibe offers movies, games and more relaxing spaces.
The Oceaneer was the perfect arrangement for us, but I wasn’t prepared for how many times my son would have the staff contact me because he wanted to be with his mommy. I didn’t pack my mommy guilt on this trip, so while he experienced the Oceaneer and everything it had to offer, I experienced the ship for as long as I needed.
The food
The Wish is also a culinary cabaret, with nearly every type fare available. There are three family restaurants with themes. The first is the Arendelle, with its “Frozen” kingdom, involving a mix of seastar
food and Nordic flavors and a live performance in which costumed staffers dressed as Elsa, Olaf and Anna sing “Frozen” songs. My 6-year-old daughter was beaming when Anna stopped by our table to pose for a photo.
At the Worlds of Marvel’s “The Avengers: Quantum Encounter,” Ant-man and the Wasp host a fun presentation to show off superhero gadgets, such as Captain America’s shield and Iron Man’s arc reactor. The dinner includes steak, seafood and children’s favorites, like chicken tenders.
Breakfast and lunch is typically at the Marceline Market, named for Walt Disney’s childhood home in Missouri. It features 10 food areas for casual fare.
For adults (sans children), there are upscale options. Palo Steakhouse for Italian dining and steaks, Enchanté by Chef Arnaud Lallement, which serves French cuisine by threewe
Michelin chef Arnaud Lallement, and the Rose luxury lounge, inspired by Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast.” This is where I had a perfect glass of champagne on my last night.
There are other lounges throughout the ship, including Nightingale’s, a piano bar inspired by Cinderella’s “Sing Sweet Nightingale” in the 1950 film, and Hyperspace Lounge, which serves the Kaiburr Crystal drink at a whopping $5,000 and is designed for four people.
The entertainment
While we had a daily schedule of events, the ship was so massive that I enjoyed discovering the amenities and activities during my walks from one end to the other.
The Disney Wish has two 80-plus-seat movie theaters, Wonderland Cinema and Never Land Cinema, that show classic and modern films from Disney, Lucasfilm, Marvel, Pixar and more. The two theaters are the first in the cruise industry to feature Dolby Atmos 3D audio to enhance the movie-watching experience.
For sports enthusiasts, Hero Zone is a futuristic sports arena that hosts game-show-style family or one-on-one competitions in foosball, air hockey and basketball on a full-size court. The Disney Uncharted Adventure is an interactive experience that takes guests throughout the ship, uncovering constellations in the shapes of iconic Disney and Pixar characters.
My treat was seeing one of the three Broadway-style shows, “Disney Seas the Adventure,” an original musical that features Minnie Mouse, Goofy and other characters. The other musicals were “The Little Mermaid” and “Aladdin.”
The beach
With our three-night itinerary, we sailed from Port Canaveral to Castaway Cay, which is Disney’s private island in the Bahamas.
The beaches are pristine and lined with plenty of chairs and umbrellas. There’s also a children’s area, much like on the ship, where I could leave the children securely to play while I lounged on the beach or had a tropical cocktail at one of the islands bars.
Passengers can also go snorkeling, rent a boat and play on a water slide. Adults can take a tram to Serenity Bay, which has a dining area and open-air massage cabanas.
The spa
I was eagerly looking forward to my massage appointment at the ship’s Senses Spa, since I hadn’t had one in a long time. The spa features an outdoor relaxation space with a rainforest experience. There are heated ergonomic loungers, sensory spa showers and steam and dry saunas. There’s also a full menu of services, from massages and facials to acupuncture therapies.
My masseuse informed me that the little knot I felt in my neck was actually a mass of tightness. “You should get massages more often,” she said. Of course, I knew that.
Other standout amenities include the rooms, which are surprisingly spacious and comfortable, even with two energetic children. The pool areas and an enormous water slide are opportunities for endless fun. The gym has a cycling studio and aerobics room and a sweeping view of the ocean.
Disney’s Wish cruise ship brought out the happiness in everyone. I watched a woman jump up and down like a schoolgirl after taking a photo with Daisy and Donald Duck. So I chased them down for my photo, too.