Disney Cruise Line^®

Fabulous family cruising

A holiday where almost everything is included in the package price including your stateroom, onboard activities, meals, plenty of snacks and 24 hour room service. Enjoy entertainment for families to experience as a group or individually - designed for varied interests and ages. Plus dining experiences that vary each night and provide a diversity of cuisine. Couple this with Disney's legendary commitment to attention and detail and you have the ultimate in family cruising.

Disney cruising for kids

On a Disney cruise, your children will be enchanted from the moment they step onboard. They'll meet some of their favourite Disney Characters and have fun playing everything from whacky game shows to kids' karaoke.

Organised children's activities start at 9am and finish at midnight and are geared towards kids of all ages, including a teenagers' only hub with games, video filming, music and more.

Disney cruising for adults

There really is something for everyone on a Disney cruise. While the children are being well looked after, you can enjoy some time out for yourself.

Why not try a little wine tasting or maybe a cookery class? Or if you'd prefer to chill out, you can relax at the spa or order a drink and lounge by the adults' only pool.

Spacious Staterooms

Disney staterooms are designed with families in mind, and offer substantially more space than on most other cruise lines, plus clever conveniences like split baths and extra storage space. So while Dad is bathing the kids, mum can get ready in the other bathroom. Many categories also feature connecting staterooms and some categories sleep up to 5 guests.

Spectacular entertainment for the whole family

Why would you expect anything less from Disney:

• Original Disney West End - style shows, suitable for all ages
• The latest Disney films
• The only fireworks at sea (weather permitting)
• Incredible deck parties with Disney Characters
• Family entertainment club featuring game shows
• Disney Character meet 'n' greets, for up close and personal encounters with your favourite characters.

Keep the kids happy and safe

With the best ratio of youth co-ordinators to children at sea, Disney ensures kids are able to participate in programs and free time events based on their interests with the ability to join whichever themed experience appeals to them at any given time. This means siblings of varying ages can play together since there are both open-age and age-recommended themed programs to suit every interest and mood.

Great night time entertainment

In the evenings get together with the family and watch a new- release movie or take in a West-end-style show, the choice is yours.

Leave the kids supervised with friends their own age at the kids clubs and you can head off to the cruise ship's over 18s entertainment area, where you'll find a choice of vibrant night clubs and soft music lounges.

Excursions

With so much to do, you may forget there are also many enchanting ports of call to discover. whether you join a Disney excursion or explore on your own: kids can take part in mini-adventures led by Disney youth Coordinators, while parents lunch on local cuisine or flop at the beach.

Dining on a Disney cruise

On your Disney cruise, you'll be introduced to a unique rotational dining experience. You and the family will be treated to a great meal in one of three separately themed restaurants, accompanied by your own personal waiting staff each evening.

If you'd like to eat without the kids and enjoy a more intimate dining experience, try Palo or Remy, the cruise ship's sophisticated restaurant. It offers exquisite cuisine exclusively for guests aged 18 and over for a supplement.

This is Disney, after all

On board Disney Cruise Line, guests know they can rely on the utmost quality, service and unparalleled attention to detail for which Disney is so famous along with all the magic only Disney can create.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the details of this page are correct at the time of publication. However, you should always check prior to booking that any essential information is accurate with either Virgin Holidays Cruises or Disney Cruise Line.

Which Disney Cruise Line cruise ship is right for you?

• Disney Dream
• Disney Fantasy
• Disney Magic
• Disney Wonder

Disney Cruise Line Destinations

Launched in 1998, Disney Cruise Line is a family orientated brand offering exciting and entertaining cruises in elegant surroundings.

Since its first ship set sail over ten years ago the cruise line has scooped more than 50 industry awards and is constantly working to introduce new activities and innovations for the benefit of its loyal passengers.

Blast from the past

In 1994 the Walt Disney Company announced plans to branch into the cruise industry and enable people to enjoy the magic of Disney at sea. The company also unveiled plans to create a private island in the Bahamas known as Castaway Cay.

Disney's first passengers were selected by a lottery in 1997 and the following year the company's first ship - Disney Magic - embarked on her maiden voyage on June 20th 1998.

A sophisticated ship, Disney Magic was designed to resemble the great cruise ships of the 1920s, with a distinctly art deco theme. Unlike most other cruise lines, Disney's ships are free from casinos and are designed specifically with families in mind.

In 1999, the first Disney Cruise Line wedding took place at Castaway Cay and that same year Disney Magic celebrated its 100th sailing on July 9th.

The cruise line's second vessel, Disney Wonder, arrived in Port Canaveral on August 2nd 1999 and embarked on her maiden voyage on August 15th.

Like the Disney Magic, the Disney Wonder was built by the legendary Fincantieri Shipyards in Italy and features a large painting on its stern of Donald Duck and his nephew Huey.

Designed to have an art nouveau feel, the ship's interior features swirling wave designs throughout.

Just two years later the cruise line went on to welcome its one-millionth guest, on August 30th 2001.

According to Cruise Critic, Disney offers one of the "most unique" experiences at sea and, since its launch, has introduced many new innovations.

Disney was one of the first cruise lines to introduce the concept of a rotating dining schedules, as well as its famous bath-and-a-half cabins. Unlike most other cruise ships, the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder are casino-free and do not have libraries. In addition, Disney was the first cruise lines to introduce a soda card scheme for its passengers - something which has since been adopted by numerous other cruise lines.

In 2004, both ships underwent renovations and now feature three new areas, including an adults-only cafe, an English-style sports bar and a teenage coffee house. Cabins were also kitted out with new mattresses, towels and luxury bed sheets.

Cruising into the future

Disney Cruise Line has gone from strength-to-strength in recent years and in 2007 announced that two new vessels will be added to the fleet. The ships, which have not yet been named, will launch in 2011 and 2012. Weighing in at 122,000 tonnes, the new vessels will be two decks higher than the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder. It is thought that the ships will feature 1,250 staterooms.

Just this month Disney was ranked number one for 'cruise experiences' by the readers of Conde Nast Traveller magazine, with votes being cast for the quality of staterooms, design, dining, itineraries and shore excursions.

Speaking at the time, Disney president Tom McAlpin said: "We are pleased to receive this honour from the readers of such an esteemed travel publication.

"Winning the No. 1 spot is a testament to the beauty of our ships and the dedication our cast and crew members have in creating an unparalleled vacation for every member of the family."

In addition, readers ranked Disney's onboard spas among the top five best at sea and Disney Magic was ranked number one in the large ship category.

Over its relatively short lifetime Disney has already scooped more than 50 awards - impressive by anyone's standards - and it continues to come up with new and creative ways to make the cruise experience even better for its passengers.

The cruise line prides itself on providing families with a place to recharge their batteries and enjoy quality time together in a world of laughter and magic that only Disney can create.