There’s nothing better than stepping aboard a cruise ship, feeling the wind in your face while you bask in the sun, and devouring all of the soft serve ice cream you can possibly eat in a week. While all of these things are true of most family-friendly cruise lines, one of the best options for your next family cruise is Disney Cruise Line (DCL). If you’re thinking about taking any Disney cruises in 2025 and 2026, you’re in luck because there’s an abundance of spectacular itineraries and ships to choose from.
I’ve been lucky enough to sail on all of Disney’s cruise ships, including the newest ship, the Disney Treasure. I can confidently say that no matter what ship you pick, your next Disney Cruise is going to be spectacular. From the elevated level of service, incredible entertainment around every corner, delightful dining opportunities, and more, the bar is always set high on a Disney cruise.
Whether you’re family is looking for an island getaway where stretches of sand are seemingly endless, an Alaskan adventure where glaciers and bald eagles are spotted throughout the journey, or a Mediterranean escape to iconic cities, the best Disney cruises in 2025 and 2026 have it all. And let me just tell you, after doing all three of these itineraries over 11 Disney cruises, once-in-a-lifetime moments happen every day on a Disney cruise.
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The best Disney cruises for families in 2025 and 2026
Whether your family includes kids, adults traveling together, or a chosen family of friends, there’s a Disney cruise in 2025 and 2026 for every type of group. In November 2025, Disney will launch its newest cruise ship, the Disney Destiny, which will sail from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Then, in December 2025, Disney’s first ship to Singapore, the Disney Adventure, will start sailing.
While there’s no new ships debuting in 2026, there’s plenty of fun still to be had. The Disney Magic will set sail around Alaska for the first time, joining the Wonder in The Last Frontier. There’s also plenty of themed sailings and island time to enjoy in the Bahamas and Caribbean.
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Keep reading to learn all about the best itineraries to sail for the rest of 2025 and into 2026. (Note: all prices listed below are as of publication for four guests, including two adults and two children.)
1. Disney Cruise Line island double dip on the Disney Dream
I love cruises to island destinations, and on DCL, that means going to either Disney Castaway Cay or Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. But what if you didn’t have to choose? On select four-night itineraries on the Disney Dream, you don’t have to because the ship will visit both DCL islands, making this a true tropical escape.
The sailing departs from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, then visits both islands. Plus, there’s a sea day, so you can experience all that the ship has to offer. The Disney Dream is a beautiful ship, too, so you’re going to want to take advantage of all of the time you have onboard. Don’t miss “Disney’s Believe” in the Walt Disney Theater, a fun show featuring antics from the Genie from “Aladdin” as it teaches all of us about finding the wonder in everyday things.
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Even better is that this itinerary has some sailings with the exciting Halloween on the High Seas overlay, where every day is filled with not-so-scary fun. I loved my Halloween on the High Seas cruise a few years ago, and cannot wait to do another one. Some of my favorite things were seeing the characters in cute Halloween costumes, trick-or-treating through Cabanas, and seeing the lighting of the pumpkin tree.
Sailing dates: August 2025 through April 2026
Starting price: $3,179
2. Halloween on the High Seas on the Disney Wish
Around here, we love Halloween, so getting to celebrate the spooky holiday in style on the Disney Wish sounds like a wish that’s been granted to me. The Wish sails on three- and four-night itineraries. I prefer the four-night option because there’s so much to do onboard that three nights never seems like enough time. The cruises leave from Port Canaveral, Florida, near Orlando, so this is also a great one to pair up with a night at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom for the ultimate Halloween getaway.
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The cruise sails to Nassau, Bahamas (which I never leave the cruise ship for anymore) and Disney Castaway Cay. During the cruise, you’ll be able to don your best costumes to take photos with Mickey and the gang in their Halloween best, including Minnie, Daisy, and Clarabelle dressed as the Sanderson sisters from “Hocus Pocus.”
Sailing dates: September 8 through October 31, 2025
Starting price: $3,212
3. Set sail on the Disney Adventure around Singapore
The Disney Adventure is one of two new cruise ships coming from DCL this year. The massive ship is divided into seven themed areas, much like Royal Caribbean’s “neighborhood” concept on its larger ships. These areas include Disney Imagination Garden, San Fransokyo Street, Wayfinder Bay, and Marvel Landing. I’m pretty excited about Marvel Landing since there will be rides like a roller coaster and a spinning attraction. I’m also very excited about the presence of Duffy and Friends onboard, including in a sweet new show all about friendship and a store dedicated to Duffy and his lovable pals.
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The Disney Adventure takes its maiden voyage on December 15, 2025, and will exclusively have sea days around the South China Sea for all of its sailings. Through 2026, the ship will embark on three- and four-night sailings. If I ever got the chance to go to Singapore to get on the Adventure, I would book a back-to-back sailing. This would include one three-night and one four-night cruise to make a weeklong itinerary on the impressive new ship.
Sailing dates: Begins sailing December 15, 2025
Starting price: $1,747
4. Channel your inner hero on the Disney Destiny
Another new ship debuting in late 2025 is the Disney Destiny, a sister ship to the Wish and Treasure. The new ship will have three-, four-, and five-night itineraries from Port Everglades. It will also feature some of Disney’s boldest storytelling yet, with interactive elements in the Grand Hall, a full-stage production of the animated classic, “Hercules,” and a chance to get up close with baddies like Maleficent and Cruella.
One thing that I’m most excited to experience on the Disney Destiny is Pride Lands: Feast of the Lion King, which is one of the rotational dining restaurants onboard. Everyone will get the chance to eat here as part of your dinner rotation. The menu highlights African cuisine partnered with storytelling and live music from “The Lion King.”
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The ship will embark on its maiden voyage on November 20, 2025, and sail for four nights to both of Disney’s island destinations. When I book the Disney Destiny next year, it’s going to be for one of the five-night sailings, which goes to both DCL islands, Nassau, and includes a sea day.
Sailing dates: Maiden voyage is November 20, 2025
Starting price: $3,086
5. Very Merrytime Cruises from Port Canaveral on the Disney Fantasy
There’s nothing like getting into the holiday spirit on a Disney Cruise. That’s exactly what can happen on Very Merrytime cruises from Port Canaveral on the Disney Fantasy. These three- to five-night sailings visit one or both of Disney’s island destinations in the Bahamas, making it a tropical holiday for everyone. Onboard, there’s plenty of yuletide cheer with a larger-than-life gingerbread house and Christmas tree in the atrium, storytelling with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and a holiday deck party with all of your Disney friends.
The Fantasy is also home to one of my favorite productions in the Walt Disney Theater, “Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular.” The show retells the story of the animated movie with incredible sets, a lively cast, and plenty of dance-in-your-seat moments. Every time I see this show, I’m blown away by the production and wish I could rewind time to start it over again like my old VHS tape of “Aladdin.”
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Sailing dates: November 16 through December 26, 2025
Starting price: $3,533
6. Alaska cruises on the Disney Wonder and Disney Magic in 2026
In 2025, my family and I took the trip of a lifetime to Alaska on the Disney Wonder. This was a trip we’ve dreamed about, and let’s just say it completely lived up to the hype. From hiking on glaciers and whale watching to drinking Glacier-itas and seeing a live lumberjack competition, Alaska was everything we hoped for and more. And that was just off the ship. Onboard, there was plenty of Disney fun to be had. Over a week, we partied during a “Frozen”-themed deck party, had exceptional dining at the adult-only restaurant, Palo, and saw Disney characters in their exclusive Alaska outfits around the ship.
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Well, next year, even more people can take in the beauty of Alaska with a bit of Disney magic. Both the Wonder and her sister ship, the Disney Magic, will be setting sail on five- and seven-night itineraries. This will be the first time that two DCL ships will sail around Alaska.
In 2026, the Disney Wonder will take guests on the same seven-night itinerary I just did, embarking in Vancouver, Canada, then making calls upon Skagway, Ketchikan, Juneau, and a glacier viewing day around the Stikine Ice Cap. Alternatively, on the Disney Magic, five-night cruises will take guests to Ward Cove (Ketchikan’s alternate docking position) and a glacier viewing day, while seven-night cruises will swap Juneau for Icy Strait Point, and still visit Skagway, Ketchikan, and have a glacier viewing day. No matter what ship or itinerary you choose, this is sure to be your family’s best vacation ever, just like it was for mine.
Sailing dates: May 11 through September 21, 2026
Starting price: $5,112
7. Dreaming of Europe on the Disney Dream
The Disney Dream is headed back to Europe in 2026 with summer sailings around the Mediterranean, the Greek and British Isles, and the Norwegian Fjords. For a true adventure, sailing on one of these summer itineraries is a must. Ports are steeped in history and offer plenty to do for the entire family.
The 2026 European season starts in May and goes through September, with sailings lasting anywhere from three to 12 nights. In 2023, I had the chance to sail on a seven-night itinerary that featured stops in France and Italy. It is a trip my family and I talk about often. Especially our day in Rome where it was brutally hot, but I got to live out my Lizzie McGuire dreams and toss a coin into the Trevi Fountain and take a tour of the Colosseum.
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Next summer, seven-night cruises take guests everywhere from Florence and Pisa, Italy; Vigo, Spain; Cork, Ireland; Santorini, Greece; and Ajaccio, France. For a truly unique sailing, consider one of the two Norwegian Fjords cruises where you’ll visit places like Alesund and Bergen, Norway.
Sailing dates: May 16 through September 7, 2026
Starting price: $4,005
8. Set sail on Disney’s newest ship, the Disney Treasure
The Disney Treasure joined the Disney Cruise Line fleet with its maiden voyage on December 21, 2024. Since then, it’s been taking guests on seven-night cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean. With its grand spaces inspired by movies like “Aladdin” and “Coco,” and theme park rides like the Jungle Cruise, there’s truly something for everyone in the family. After sailing on the Treasure during its inaugural season, I can tell you that it’s worth every single penny of the cruise fare to get on this ship.
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During my cruise, I was able to drink cocktails in a lounge that felt like it was plucked right out of the Haunted Mansion attraction and onto a cruise ship, enjoy dinner with a show at Plaza de Coco, see Disney’s best theatrical show yet with “Disney Tale of Moana,” and of course, take some time to enjoy the adult-only pool area at the back of the ship.
While I love Western Caribbean itineraries, I’ve never been to the Eastern Caribbean. So I’m hoping to book that for my next family vacation with Disney Cruise Line. Eastern Caribbean sailings call upon St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Tortola in the British Virgin Islands, and Disney Castaway Cay.
Sailing dates: July 2025 through September 2026
Starting price: $4,073
9. A one-time Hawaiian cruise on the Disney Wonder
Later in 2025, when the Alaska season is complete, the Disney Wonder will start to make its way towards Australia. But before it gets to The Land Down Under, it has some pretty unique sailings. One of them is a 10-night Hawaiian Cruise from Vancouver, Canada. You’ll get a handful of sea days as the ship makes its way to its first port of call, Honolulu, Hawaii. Other ports include Nawiliwili, Kahului, Hilo, and back to Honolulu. This is a great itinerary to tag on a few nights at the end to visit Aulani, Disney’s beautiful resort in Ko Olina. Aulani is just about an hour from Honolulu.
Sailing dates: September 23 through October 3, 2025
Starting price: $5,191
[Editor’s note: This story features some reporting from FamilyVacationist contributor, David Parfitt.]
