FOR the first time ever, Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Wish is coming to the UK.
From summer 2027, Disney fans can head off on a cruise on the Disney Wish from Southampton on three to seven-night European sailings.
Bookings for sailings go live on February 23.
The Disney Wish is the fifth ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet and is full of storytelling.
As guests board the ship, they will enter through the Grand Hall, with their name even being called out.
Princes and princesses will be there to greet you before you head off to discover the rest of the ship and your room.
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Inside each stateroom, passengers will find spacious wardrobes, sprawling beds and a theme specific to a Disney character.
Mine featured Moana artwork, including a huge piece on Te Fiti – the goddess of life and nature.
Most of the staterooms also feature a split bathroom and an ocean view.
When it comes to food on board the ship, guests won’t be short for choice, with market-style buffet options and immersive dining adventures.
For example, at Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure there is a live performance from the characters of the film, including Olaf.
All the iconic songs are performed, and plenty of opportunities to sing along as you get served your food.
Another dining experience is Worlds of Marvel where you are immersed in a futuristic-style restaurant and accompanied by Ant-Man and Spider-Man.
As a sweet-tooth, I especially loved Inside Out: Joyful Sweets, where you can pick up handmade gelato and ice cream or tuck into a themed macaron, cupcake, or chocolate treat.
Coffee onboard the ship is also an experience – each time I picked up my morning latte from either The Wishing Star Café or The Enchanted Sword Café, I was greeted by a character printed onto the foam.
As for other entertainment, the ship has an endless amount of things to do.
Each night over a voyage, the Walt Disney Theatre puts on a West-End style show.
My personal favourite was Disney Seas the Adventure, where passengers follow Goofy on a journey sailing the ship.
Other shows include Disney The Little Mermaid – an adaptation of the classic tale.
Kids have lots to do outside of the shows as well.
The Disney AquaMouse is a performance and ride in one, with lighting, special effects, and scenes of Mickey and Minnie on different adventures.
And for kids needing to let off steam, there is the Hero Zone, where there are a number of challenges and game-style competitions.
Once they ultimately tire out, the two cinemas are the ideal spots to cosy up with some popcorn while watching the latest Disney releases.
And the ultimate night for the whole family is Pirates’ Night, where Captain Jack Sparrow takes a fateful leap from the ship’s funnel.
If parents do want some time away from the kids, there is an entire deck dedicated to children, including a full-service nursery and separate clubs for kids and teens.
This gives parents the chance to nip off to the adult-only spaces without stressing about their kids, and these were my favourite spaces on the Disney Wish.
The Senses Spa & Salon was the ultimate destination for a pamper session.
With a sauna, steam room and heated loungers, there are plenty of spots for child-free relaxation, though my favourite was the frigidarium, sitting at a chilly 10C.
And who wouldn’t enjoy the outdoor whirlpools as the sun sets and the waves crash against the side of the ship?
Quiet Cove is another top adult-only spot, where you can relax in an infinity pool that looks over the sea.
It is the ideal place to be when the ship’s horn blasts the iconic first seven notes of the ‘When You Wish Upon a Star’ song melody.
In total, the ship can carry up to 4,000 passengers, with an additional 1,555 crew members onboard.
The cheapest sailing is a three-night Belgium cruise from Southampton, sailing to Zeebrugge (Brussels) in Belgium costing from £1,633 for two people.
One of the four-night itineraries costs from £2,252 for an inside stateroom for two people, heading to La Coruña, in Spain.
Or you could head off on a seven-night Northern Europe cruise from Southampton from £3,273 for two people.
You could really splash out with the a seven-night Norwegian Fjords cruise from Southampton, sailing to Kristiansand, Olden, Alesund and Haugesund in Norway from £5,235 for two people.
In other cruise news, here are our pick of the eight best cruises for both hot and cold weather – from Caribbean sailings to Icelandic glacier tours.
Plus, the ‘affordable luxury’ Nordic cruise where temperatures hit 28C.