Disney holidays

DISNEY Cruise Line has just unveiled its newest ship – and it’s the company’s glitziest yet.

With themed dressing-up parties, glam stage shows and immersive dining experiences featuring much-loved characters, kids will love everything about Disney Believe.

But it’s not just the House of Mouse putting little ones at the forefront.

Many cruise lines are introducing activities, meals and entertainment options to keep youngsters happy – which means more downtime for Mum and Dad.

Here, Sophie Swietochowski shares her pick of the most child-friendly cruise ships for 2027.

DISNEY CRUISE LINE

LITTLE ones can just Let It Go on board Disney Believe, which is home to a sparkling Frozen-themed dining venue.

WAIL OF A TIME

I drove Irish Route 66 with deserted golden beaches and pirate-like islands

TEMPTED?

Tiny ‘Bali of Europe’ town with stunning beaches, €3 cocktails and £20 flights

Oaken’s Table: A Frozen Family Feast is more than just a restaurant.

Here, youngsters are surrounded by characters Oaken, Anna and Kristoff as they tuck into dinner with live singalongs and performances throughout.

The kids’ clubs here take things to new heights, and children will love checking out the first ever Encanto musical, too.

But parents are not forgotten about.

While teens are soaring on the ship’s water coaster AquaMouse, unleashing their inner Spider-Man at the Hero Zone or paddling in the Toy Story-themed splash zone, adults can knock back cocktails at Sea Notes — the Little Mermaid-inspired piano bar.

GO: The ship makes its debut in December next year. More info, including cruise packages, will be released on Monday next week. See disneycruise.com or call 0800 171 2317.

ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES

ROYAL CARIBBEAN is renowned for its family-friendly offering, and has enough high-energy activities to keep rugrats happy for at least two weeks on the trot.

Freedom of the Seas, in particular, ranks highly for its adrenaline-pumping fun.

While tiny tots play with cannons and drench buckets in Splashaway Bay, teens can race each other on the Perfect Storm waterslides or unlock new surf skills on the FlowRider surf simulator.

On top of some excellent kids’ clubs, there’s laser tag, rock climbing, mini golf, an arcade and even an ice rink.

Pizzas, tacos and burgers will ensure they never go hungry, although the ice cream counter is sure to be the biggest hit — and it’s free for all cruisers.

GO: A five-night Northern Europe sailing is from £579.50pp for a family of four, departing from Southampton on August 17 next year. The cruise calls at Hamburg and Zeebrugge (for Bruges). Check out seascanner.co.uk.

P&O CRUISES

BUCKLE in for a thrilling ride on board P&O Cruises’ Arvia.

This ship has a properly immersive escape room that takes you well below sea on a fictional submarine.

Families will rely on interactive consoles, motion simulators and high-tech controls to succeed in their mission and retreat from the submarine safely.

Kids can reward themselves with a sundae from the gelateria afterwards but most of the time they’ll be itching to get to the youth club.

There is also the Altitude Zone with a high-ropes course, mini-golf and splash zone.

Families can also benefit from a Children’s Tea at the buffet.

It’s at 5pm daily so parents can get little ones fed before dropping them at the night nursery.

GO: A 14-night Spain and France sailing is from £1,049pp, based on a family of four sharing and departing Southampton on July 18 next year. Ships calls at Vigo, Malaga, Alicante, Toulon, Barcelona and Cadiz. See pocruises.com.

NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE

AURA is the newest ship to grace Norwegian Cruise Lines’s fleet and definitely one for action-seekers.

Its thrill zone, Ocean Heights, is spread across three decks and features so many spine-tingling activities you won’t know where to start.

Along with rock climbing, a high-ropes course and funfair, there are three waterslides and a main pool deck with sea-view hot tubs.

Best of all, grown-ups with their eyes on the speciality dining can bag free meals for kids under the age of 12.

GO: A seven-night Eastern Caribbean sailing is from £907pp departing Miami on August 7 next year. Calls at Puerto Plata, St. Thomas, Tortola and Great Stirrup Cay, NCL’s private island. See iglucruise.com or call 020 3733 5557.

MSC CRUISES

THE highlight for children on MSC’s World Europa is the dry slide that drops 11 decks, making it the longest slide at sea and sending riders spinning down 240ft in a matter of seconds.

With Lego on board as official sponsor, children will have their fill of building-block games at the kids’ clubs, while teens can get stuck into video games.

The waterslides integrate virtual reality and project animations while riders whizz to the bottom.

The high-tech fun does not end there, either.

The ship also has a Formula 1 simulator, 5D interactive cinema and virtual reality arcades.

GO: A seven-night Western Mediterranean sailing is from £574pp based on a family of four sharing and departing from Civitavecchia in Italy on May 1, 2027. It calls at Palma de Mallorca, Barcelona, Marseille, Genoa and La Spezia. See msccruises.co.uk.

DISNEY has revealed what to expect onboard its huge new ship, Disney Believe from new restaurants to one-of-a-kind performances.

Launching in late 2027, it will be the ninth ship, and the fourth in the Wish class alongside Disney Wish, Disney Treasure and Disney Destiny.

Onboard will be 7 swimming pools, splash areas, food outlets and restaurants, character meet-and-greets as well as Disney-first experiences.

Something that guests won’t be able to see anywhere is the Encanto musical which will debut exclusively on Disney Believe – and it’s a world first.

Other performances joining the line-up for onboard entertainment are Broadway-style shows, Tangled: The Musical and Disney Seas the Adventure.

Returning will be the fan-favourite Pirate’s Rockin’ Parlay Party which is a nighttime spectacular with a live rock band and fireworks at sea.

SAIL AWAY

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FANTASY LIFE

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There will also be a Zootropolis-inspired entertainment hub called Gazelle where during the day it will hold trivia, games, and a family show alongside Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde.

In the evening, Gazelle will be open for adult-only entertainment which includes silent discos and variety acts.

There are some other strictly adult zones including Sea Notes, a piano lounge inspired by Ariel’s grotto.

The relaxed Wishing Well lounge is centered around its own castle courtyard where adults can relax and enjoy mocktails, cocktails, spirits, and coffees while musical performances take place.

Skygazers is a new observatory-themed pub serving up custom-made craft brews, cocktails and snacks.

Returning venues will include the Haunted Mansion Parlour, Arnaud Lallement, Quiet Cove as well as the Senses Spa, Untangled Salon, and Hook’s Barbery.

When it comes to dining, there will be a brand-new restaurant onboard the Disney believe called Oaken’s Table: A Frozen Family Feast.

While guests are eating, characters like Oaken, Anna and Kristoff will perform renditions of songs from the soundtrack.

Another option is 1923 which is onboard the sister ships which celebrates Disney animation and Worlds of Marvel.

Sweet treats can be bought from Inside Out: Joyful Sweets which has nearly 20 flavors of gelato and ice cream.

Two new cafes will be onboard, the first is Big Hero Sips which is inspired by San Fransokyo from Disney Big Hero 6.

Meanwhile, Café Kakamora is focused on Moana – and both will serve up coffee, tea and other specialty drinks.

On the upper deck will be an open-air food court called Mickey and Friends Festival of Dining where guests can choose from barbeque, cantina bowls and salads, pizza, burgers and ice cream.

Pluto’s Pita Platters is one of the new stalls serving up Mediterranean-inspired foods from kebabs to pittas.

Like on Disney’s other ships, there will be clubs for kids, tweens and teens called 2319 with dedicated space for children between 3-17.

At “it’s a Small World” Nursery families can use babysitting services for little ones between six months to three years old.

The ship will have classic staterooms with most having ocean views and 450 are interconnecting which is suitable for larger families.

There will be four royal suites on Believe where guests can step into the world of fairytales – some inspired by The Little Mermaid, and Beauty and the Beast.

The Believe Tower Suite is exclusive to the ship and has been called a ‘one-of-a-kind suite for dreamers’.

It’s two-storeys, nearly 2,000-square-foot and sleeps up to eight people – it has two main bedrooms and four and a half bathrooms.

The views will be unbeatable thanks to its floor-to-ceiling windows.

The Disney Believe will offer four and five-night sailings from south Florida to the Caribbean and The Bahamas.

During its journey it will make stops at one or both of Disney Cruise Line’s island destinations, Disney Castaway Cay and Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point.

The very first sailing will be on December 18, 2027 – in the meantime, you can book Disney Wish holidays that sail from Southampton – so no long flights.

And the new Disney Believe is just one of many new additions coming to the Disney attractions.

Disneyland Paris is getting a new Lion King log flume as well as the Up-themed Wilderness Explores Sky Swings.

An entire Villains Land will open at Magic Kingdom at Disney World, with a Maleficent rollercoaster and Magic Mirror dark ride.

Two new Cars rides, as well as an Indiana Jones and Encanto ride will be part of the expansion too.