Disney Wonder | ShermansTravel

by Suzanne Kelleher

Deal Expert / Travel Blogger

The second ship in Disney Cruise Line’s fleet, Disney Wonder was launched in 1999, a year after Disney Magic, and together they elevated the idea of what it meant to cruise with kids. For many passengers, the happiest surprise is that Disney really is, as they say, in the details. These ships are not floating theme parks but rather elegant throwbacks to the golden age of cruising. While the prices are higher than other family cruises, the service and food quality are higher, too.

Disney Wonder underwent a face-lift in 2016 that left it looking brand new. The Oceaneer kids club (for ages 3 to 12) was transformed, adding areas dedicated to Marvel Super Hero Academy, "Frozen," "Disney Junior," and "Toy Story" — in addition to craft rooms and other play areas. Each room has displays for interactive games, and the characters themselves visit on a regular basis. (Captain America, for example, teaches the kids about the heroic act of sticking up for others who need help.) The nursery also got a refresh, the tween club moved to an entirely new space, and a splash park for little ones (called Dory's Reef) was added.

In the Walt Disney Theater, a production of "Frozen" was added, complete with snow that floats down from the ceiling of the theater.

Dining-wise, the refresh installed Tiana's Place, an ode to New Orleans, with jazz, the gorgeous Disney princess herself, beaded necklaces for everyone, and menu items such as fish with jambalaya, a bananas Foster sundae, and beignets. Kids march around the room behind Tiana, dancing under parasols to the live band. A 2019 refurbishment added the adjacent French Quarter Lounge, which offers family-friendly live music and New Orleans-themed specialty drinks.

Grown-ups and teens also benefited from both updates. Disney Wonder’s adults-only area, known as After Hours, was redone in 2016 with the addition of Crown & Fin Pub, a British-style bar with TV screens that air key football games during the season. In 2019, both the Cove Café coffee bar and the Signals Bar got a new look, as did the Vibe teen hang-out space.

What We Love

Family-Friendly Staterooms: Larger than the cruise industry standard, Disney cabins feature pull-down beds for kids, oh-so-handy split bathrooms (one with a toilet and sink, the other with a tub/shower and a sink), ample storage, and (for families of five) Murphy beds. Portable cribs and Diaper Genie disposal systems are available upon request at no extra charge.

Rotational Dining: Your family dines at a new venue every night (the better to sample all three main restaurants), and your waitstaff follows you. The result is service that’s personalized but never stiff. When you arrive on the second night, your kids’ favorite drinks will be waiting on the table. Don't skip the night in Animator's Palate: Each passenger gets to create a drawing of a character, which is then turned into a cartoon before the end of the meal.

Palo Restaurant: At just $50 a person, this adults-only Italian restaurant feels like a big upgrade. Meals start with antipasti plated at your table, and include fresh handmade pastas and gorgeous soufflés for dessert.

Imaginative Cocktail Presentations: Our advice? If you like cocktails, don't disembark without trying a few of the creations in the Cadillac Lounge. This Hollywood-in-the-1950s-inspired nightclub has a swanky vibe with dim lighting, lots of leather and wood, and piano music nightly.

Best Known For

Standout Kids Clubs: Amazing play spaces and a terrific array of age-specific activities for everyone from babies to teens keep kids busy with science experiments, pizza parties, cooking classes, video game tournaments, and fun with Marvel. A highlight for the little girls on board: the "Frozen"-themed coronation ceremony.

Memorable Deck Parties: From the first night’s Sail-Away Celebration to Pirate Night and fireworks at sea, deck parties are a high-spirited blend of music, dancing, and Disney characters.

Who It's Best For

Kids and Their Parents: No cruise line caters to — or understands — families better than Disney. The adults-only pool, for example, is just a few feet from the chaos of the main pool deck, but it feels worlds away. (It also is home to Cove Cafe, a truly special coffee bar with baristas who take the time to make proper foam, as well as lovely latte art.)

Don't Say We Didn't Warn You

It Isn't Cheap: Disney is a premium cruise line, and prices reflect that. To be fair, the line also delivers great value, as prices are more inclusive here than on some other lines.

Pools Are Charming But Crowded: The Mickey and Goofy pools are undeniably adorable but small, and the top deck gets packed on sea days during sunny Mexico, Bahamas, and Caribbean sailings.

Suzanne Kelleher

Deal Expert / Travel Blogger

Suzanne Rowan Kelleher has contributed to Travel + Leisure, FoxNews.com, Good Housekeeping, Parents, DisneyFamily.com, Cigar Aficionado, The Boston Globe, and Parenting. She lives in Saratoga Springs, New York.