Disney's New Cruise Ship Rated One of the BEST in 2022 (But It Didn't Win First Prize)

Disney’s newest cruise ship, the Disney Wish, is setting sail on its maiden voyage this summer. It plans to sail to Nassau and Castaway Cay (Disney’s private island).

©Disney

This ship features a lot of brand-new experiences, including the first-ever Disney attraction at sea, three new restaurants, immersive entertainment, and more. The exciting new additions have earned the ‘Wish’ a spot on the “Best New Cruise Ships for 2022” list, but it DIDN’T win first place.

Cruise rated seven brand-new cruise ships from various companies in their list of the Best New Cruise Ships for 2022. Ships from Celebrity Beyond, Europa, Prima, and other cruising companies earned places in the list below the Disney Wish. But one cruise ship beat out the Wish for first prize: The Wonder of the Seas from Royal Caribbean.

The Wonder of the Seas

According to Cruise, this ship will be the biggest cruise ship in the world, with 18 decks and capacity for almost 7,000 passengers.

©Royal Caribbean

On board, passengers will find “8 unique neighborhoods,” with different theming and attractions in each one. The pool deck will have an AquaTheatre and Boardwalk area, and guests can visit the “Wonder Playscape” to find an “underwater world with slides, climbing walls, puzzles, and games.”

©Royal Caribbean

The Wonder of the Seas sets sail from Fort Lauderdale in March 2022, which is just a few months before the Disney Wish departs from Port Canaveral in June 2022.

Comparisons

Compared to the Wonder of the Seas, the Wish is definitely smaller. It has just 15 decks (three fewer than the Wonder of the Seas) and room for about 4,000 passengers (3,000 fewer). The size difference might be one reason that the Wish earned 2nd place instead of 1st.

Wonder of the Seas ©Royal Caribbean

Another reason for the rankings could be that the Wonder of the Seas has a more diverse destination list than the Wish does right now. Although the Wish hasn’t announced its full schedule yet, the only destinations available for Disney’s ship right now are Nassau and Castaway Cay. The Wonder of the Seas, by comparison, plans to travel to Europe (for “the most epic Europe season ever”) later in 2022.

Castaway Cay

Both ships can also claim an exciting new attraction on board: the Wish will have the AquaMouse water coaster, and The Wonder of the Seas has the FlowRider, which is a surf simulator.

©Disney

Both cruise ships also boast world-class dining, exciting attractions, and high-quality entertainment on board, so we’ll have to wait and see which ship truly has the best amenities when they debut later this year!

Why You Might Prefer the Wish

Based on what we know about both cruise ships, it seems like the Wish will have more themed entertainment, such as a Star Wars Hyperspace lounge, an Incredibles family obstacle course, and restaurants with Frozen and Marvel themes. So if you love classic Disney movies, Star Wars, or Marvel, the Wish will probably still be your top choice.

©Disney

And with lots of experiences and areas specifically created for younger passengers — like the Oceaneer Club, Superhero Academy, Fairytale Hall, Star Wars: Cargo Bay, and more — kids might prefer to sail with Disney.

©Disney

We won’t know which new cruise ship really reins supreme until both set sail later this year, so stay tuned with DFB for more Disney Cruise Line news!