Celebrating 25 Magical Years: Disney Wonder’s Journey of Enchantment

The Disney Wonder recently celebrated its 25th anniversary. Introduced as Disney Cruise Line’s second vessel on August 15, 1999, it can accommodate 1,750 guests.

This ship, a sibling to the Disney Magic constructed in 1998, was crafted at the Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard in Venice, Italy.

Upon completion, it crossed the Atlantic without passengers, ultimately docking at its base in Port Canaveral, Florida.

In its first season, the Disney Wonder conducted three- and four-night journeys to the Bahamas, visiting Nassau and Disney’s private isle, Castaway Cay.

The vessel was officially named in Port Canaveral on October 1, 1999, with a ceremony featuring Disney icons Tinkerbell and Mickey Mouse as godparents.

It continued these short trips to the Bahamas until 2011, when the newly launched Disney Dream adopted this schedule.

Afterward, the Wonder initiated its West Coast service, cruising to the Mexican Riviera and Alaska.

Late in 2012, the ship also commenced operations from Miami, marking some of the first voyages from this port under Disney’s banner.

Post a significant refit in 2016, the Disney Wonder resumed its summer Alaska tours and added seasonal travels on the West Coast and the Caribbean, leaving from San Diego, Port Canaveral, San Juan, Galveston, among others.

In late 2023, the ship began Disney’s inaugural Australasian season.

During this period, it launched cruises from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Auckland.

Following its Alaska summer season, the Wonder is set to revisit the South Pacific by late October.

In 2025, along with revisiting Alaska, Australia, and New Zealand, the Disney Wonder will also explore Baja California, the Mexican Riviera, and Hawaii.