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Disney Cruise Line Proves to Be a Hit Vacation for Families Who Don’t Cruise

Credit: Disney, Clipart

The cruise industry is beginning to bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions, and in the midst of the industry’s rebound, Disney Cruise Line still shines as a proven success with families.

With the launching of its fifth ship this year, Disney Cruise Line continues to prove that although it is a small fleet in comparison to other companies, it still offers an extremely popular vacation, especially for families, and even Guests who are simply new to cruising.

What is it that sets Disney Cruise Line apart from the rest in the industry? Let’s take a look!

Disney Wish, Disney Cruise Line

Credit: Disney

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During yesterday’s Walt Disney Company Q3 Earnings Call, Disney CFO Christine McCarthy commented on the success of Disney Cruise Line, and attributed the ships’ popularity to the Disney name and family focus. According to McCarthy, 40% of people who have sailed with Disney Cruise Line were not interested in cruise vacations in general, but rather they booked their trips because they wanted to try a new-to-them Disney experience.

With only a couple of exceptions that tend to focus on more luxury experiences, there are a number of differences that set Disney Cruise Line apart from others in the industry. The most known of these differences is Disney’s focus on creating a family-friendly vacation while still offering plenty of experiences for adults to do on their own.

Disney Cruise line Castaway Cay

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All five of Disney’s ships, the Magic, Wonder, Dream, Fantasy, and Wish, do not have casinos, an element that is often a staple of other cruise lines. Moreover, Disney is known for its immersive programming for every member of the family, including kids, teens, and adults.

More to McCarthy’s point about getting non-cruisers to cruise, however, is the familiarity with Disney’s ships before ever setting foot on board. The brand is uniquely positioned to attract Guests who are otherwise uninterested in cruise vacations because they recognize familiar characters and stories being shown to them in a new and unique way at sea. It also makes Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island in the Bahamas, an exciting port of call.

During the earnings call, McCarthy also noted that Disney Cruise Line vacations typically come at a higher price point than others in the industry, but that Disney’s family-friendly setting, outstanding Guest service, high-quality entertainment, and more continue to make these kinds of vacations a valuable experience for Guests.

Disney-cruise-captain-minnie

Credit: Disney

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While Disney Cruise Line is smaller than others in the industry, the fleet is continuing to expand. The Disney Wish launched last month in Port Canaveral, where she is situated in an ideal location to combine a vacation at sea with a trip to the Walt Disney World Resort.

At the 2017 D23 Expo, then Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts (now CEO) Bob Chapek announced that three new ships would be coming to Disney Cruise Line, including the Disney Wish. Disney has not shared information on the other two ships aside from this initial announcement; however, given the cruise industry’s position in bouncing back from the pandemic and Disney’s proven strategy of getting cruisers and non-cruisers alike to book a trip, we hope to have an update on the newest ships to join the fleet soon.

This year’s D23 Expo takes place in just under one month, from September 9-11, 2022, at the Anaheim Convention Center. While there are lots of speculations going around regarding which theme park announcements we could hear at the event, we have to wonder if Disney will share any updates on those other two ships.

We will keep you updated as we learn more about the future of Disney Cruise Line here on DisneyTips, and invite you to learn more about Disney’s vacations at sea at DisneyCruiseLine.com.

About Brittany DiCologero

Brittany is a New England-based writer focused on the history of the Walt Disney World Resort. She is the author of "Red, White, and Disney: The Myths and Reality of American History at the Walt Disney World Resort," and "Brittany Earns Her Ears."