The Disney Believe Sails in December 2027: Everything Families Should Know and How to Save!
The Disney Believe cruise ship sets sail on its maiden voyage on December 18, 2027, from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It's Disney Cruise Line's fourth Wish-class ship, and its first December brings four holiday sailings to the Bahamas and the Caribbean. Booking opened to everyone on October 19, 2026.
Mark December 2027 on your calendar because the ship is still being built at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany. That extra year is actually a gift: it gives you time to choose the right sailing, line up the best savings and grab flights from LAX before holiday fares climb. Here's everything we know, from the world's first Encanto stage musical to the deals worth chasing.
Key Takeaways
What: The Disney Believe, Disney Cruise Line's newest Wish-class ship, themed to “promise and possibilities.”
Maiden Voyage: December 18–23, 2027, a five-night Bahamian cruise (reported sold out during Castaway Club early booking).
Homeport: Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Itineraries: Four- and five-night cruises to the Bahamas and the Western Caribbean, with stops at Disney Castaway Cay and/or Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point.
Prices: December 2027 holiday sailings start at $5,211 for two guests; inaugural-season sailings start at $2,683 for two (January 2028).
What's New: The first-ever Encanto stage musical, Oaken's Table: A Frozen Family Feast, a Moana-themed Grand Hall and a Magic Kingdom-inspired Tower Suite.
Best Ways to Save: Travel-agency onboard credit, Costco Travel shop cards, Disney's special rates, onboard booking perks and choosing a non-holiday date.
What Is the Disney Believe?
The Disney Believe is the fourth and final ship in Disney Cruise Line's Wish class, joining the Disney Wish, Disney Treasure and Disney Destiny. Every Wish-class ship has its own theme, and this one celebrates characters who believe in themselves and their dreams, from Moana and Mirabel to Anna and Kristoff.
You'll spot the theme before you even board. Tinker Bell sits on the bow, while larger-than-life sculptures of Woody and Buzz Lightyear wave from the stern. The ship sails short four- and five-night trips out of Fort Lauderdale, which makes it a great fit for a first family cruise or a quick getaway tacked onto a Florida trip.
Step inside and the Grand Hall is all Moana. A bronze statue of Moana with Pua and Heihei welcomes you aboard, the carpet glows in ocean and bioluminescent tones, and a wave-shaped chandelier hides the heart of Te Fiti inside. Kids will want to hunt for it on day one.
Like its sister ships, the Believe is built for families. Most staterooms have Disney's signature split bathroom (two separate bathroom spaces, a lifesaver when everyone is getting ready at once), roomy closets and beds raised high enough to slide luggage underneath. About 70 percent of the rooms have a verandah, and more than 450 connecting doors make it easier for bigger groups to stay side by side.
Dreaming bigger? The brand-new Believe Tower Suite, tucked inside the forward funnel, is a two-story, nearly 2,000-square-foot suite that sleeps eight and is themed to Magic Kingdom Park. Two new royal suites take their inspiration from The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast, while Concierge rooms are themed to Peter Pan's Neverland.
Disney Believe December 2027 Sailings and Prices
Four sailings leave Fort Lauderdale during the 2027 holiday season. The starting prices below are for two guests sharing a stateroom and include taxes, fees and port expenses, as listed when booking opened. Disney fares move with demand, so check the official Disney Believe sailing list for today's rates.
Dates: Saturday, December 18 – Thursday, December 23, 2027
Stops: Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, Disney Castaway Cay and Nassau, Bahamas
Starting Prices for Two: Inside $6,444 | Oceanview $6,764 | Verandah $7,134 | Concierge $17,074
This is the history-making first sailing, and it was reported sold out during Castaway Club early booking, before the general public could even log on. If your heart is set on it, ask a travel advisor to watch for cancellations. Special maiden-voyage rules apply: a non-refundable 10% deposit due the day you book, no date changes once booked, and it can't be combined with any other offer, discount or future cruise credit.
Dates: Thursday, December 23 – Monday, December 27, 2027
Stops: Disney Castaway Cay and Nassau, Bahamas
Starting Prices for Two: Inside $5,211 | Oceanview $5,467 | Verandah $5,763 | Concierge $13,715
This is the only December sailing with Christmas Day at sea, and it's also the lowest-priced of the holiday departures. Disney Cruise Line's holiday sailings are usually decked out for the season, so check Disney's website closer to sailing for the ship's holiday celebrations.
Dates: Monday, December 27 – Friday, December 31, 2027
Stops: Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point and Disney Castaway Cay
Starting Prices for Two: Inside $5,476 | Oceanview $5,732 | Verandah $6,036 | Concierge $14,164
Two Disney island beach days, no city port and you're home in time for New Year's Eve. This one is a sweet spot for families with little kids who would rather splash at the beach than explore Nassau.
Dates: Friday, December 31, 2027 – Wednesday, January 5, 2028
Stops: Cozumel, Mexico, and Disney Castaway Cay
Starting Prices for Two: Inside $6,030 | Oceanview $6,070 | Verandah $6,970 | Concierge $16,110
Ring in 2028 at sea, then wake up to Mexican Caribbean water in Cozumel. It's the ship's first Western Caribbean sailing and, after the maiden voyage, the priciest of the holiday options.
After the holidays, prices drop a lot. The inaugural season runs through May 6, 2028, with 29 sailings in all, and inside staterooms for January through early May start between $2,683 and $4,790 for two guests. The lowest rate is the four-night January 20–24, 2028, cruise to Nassau and Disney Lookout Cay.
Parent Tip: Prices are per stateroom for two, so get a quote with your whole crew. Adding a third or fourth guest changes the total, and a quote is the only way to see your real number.
How to Book a Disney Believe Cruise
General booking opened at 8 a.m. Eastern on Monday, October 19, 2026, after Castaway Club members (repeat Disney cruisers), Disney Vacation Club members and Adventures by Disney Insiders got first access October 12–15. You can book online with your MyDisney account, call Disney Cruise Line at 888-325-2500, or work with a travel advisor.
A deposit holds your stateroom and the balance is due closer to sailing. For the maiden voyage, final payment is due 120 days before sailing for suites and Concierge rooms and 90 days before for all other staterooms, and the Disney Cruise Line Vacation Protection Plan had to be added and paid in full at booking. Review the booking terms for your specific sailing before you pay.
Disney Vacation Club members also have their own “First Wave” member sailing, a five-night Bahamian cruise departing January 5, 2028. Member booking opens by phone on November 21, 2026.
For all the official ship details, take a look at Disney Cruise Line's Disney Believe announcement.
Where to Find Discounted Deals on a Disney Believe Cruise
Let's be real: brand-new Disney ships rarely go on sale in their first season, and the maiden voyage can't be combined with any discount at all. But there are still smart ways to save, and most of them add value on top of Disney's price.
Book Through a Disney-Specialist Travel Agency for Onboard Credit
Booking through an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner costs nothing extra, since the fare is the same as booking direct, and many agencies add free onboard credit you can spend on the ship. Get Away Today, for example, has been offering $50 in onboard credit for every $1,000 spent on a Disney cruise. MouseSavers keeps a running list of Disney cruise discounts and agency offers. Amounts and rules vary, so ask before you book.
Costco members get a Digital Costco Shop Card with every Disney Cruise Line sailing booked through Costco Travel. The amount is calculated during booking, and the card arrives by email after your cruise begins. Executive Members also earn their 2% annual reward on qualified Costco Travel purchases. Compare that total against an agency's onboard credit to see which is worth more to your family.
Disney regularly posts discounted rates for Florida residents, Canadian residents and U.S. military members on select sailings, plus limited-time sales. We haven't seen a Believe-specific discount yet, but keep an eye on the Disney Cruise Line special offers page, especially for spring 2028 dates. SoCal families, note that Disney's Southern California resident rates have applied to San Diego sailings, not Fort Lauderdale. Here's our guide to the SoCal resident Disney cruise deal.
Skip the Holidays
Your calendar is the biggest discount of all. The lowest-priced December sailing starts at $5,211 for two in an inside room, while the January 20–24, 2028, cruise starts at $2,683, nearly half the price for a ship that's only a month old. Late January and early February dates are consistently the lowest, though they may mean a few days out of school.
Book Onboard If You're Sailing Disney Before Then
Taking a Disney cruise on another ship in the next year? Disney's onboard booking program has typically offered a fare discount and a reduced deposit on a future cruise booked while you're on the ship. Ask the onboard future-cruise team whether the Believe qualifies, and remember you can usually list or transfer your travel agent on the booking so you keep the agency perks too.
Disney Visa cardmembers get savings on select onboard purchases and earn Disney Rewards Dollars that can go toward Disney Cruise Line bookings. The Disney Inspire Visa adds 200 Rewards Dollars after you spend $2,000 on Disney resort stays and cruise bookings in a cardmember year. It isn't a fare discount, but on a cruise this size it adds up.
Keep Watching the Price After You Book
Disney fares change, and some of Disney's offers have applied to existing bookings as well as new ones. If a deal pops up that fits your sailing, your travel advisor or Disney's call center may be able to apply it. Booking early also locks in your stateroom category before the holiday dates fill up.
Parent Tip: Request quotes for the exact same sailing and stateroom from two agencies and Costco Travel, then compare the perks side by side. The fare is usually the same; the extras are where you win.
What's Onboard the Disney Believe for Kids and Families
The Believe mixes brand-new experiences with Wish-class favorites. Here's what your crew can look forward to.
Shows and Entertainment
The headliner is “Disney Encanto,” the first-ever stage adaptation of the Oscar-winning movie, playing only on the Disney Believe. Mirabel's story comes to life in the Walt Disney Theatre with colorful costumes, traditional Colombian dance and the songs your kids already know by heart, yes, including “We Don't Talk About Bruno.”
“Tangled: The Musical” moves over from the Disney Magic with a new set design and special effects, and “Disney Seas the Adventure” rounds out the theater lineup. Outside the theater, Gazelle is a Zootopia-themed hub with family games and trivia by day, and for the first time on a Disney ship, Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde star in a family show where guests help crack their latest case.
Fan favorites return too: Pirate's Rockin' Parlay Party with fireworks at sea, the Hero Zone sports arena, the Disney Uncharted Adventure scavenger game you play on your phone, and free movies at the Wonderland and Never Land Cinemas.
Dining
The new family restaurant is Oaken's Table: A Frozen Family Feast, an all-new chapter in the Frozen story set in a summer-house courtyard in the forest. Oaken, Anna and Kristoff stop by while Oaken's cousins play their own versions of Frozen songs during dinner.
Wish-class favorites 1923 and Worlds of Marvel return, with “Marvel Celebration of Heroes: Groot Remix” starring Rocket and Groot. For treats, Inside Out: Joyful Sweets (an extra cost) now features Anxiety and Envy from Inside Out 2 and nearly 20 gelato and ice cream flavors. Two new cafes, Big Hero Sips and Café Kakamora, serve coffee and specialty drinks, and the upper-deck food court adds Pluto's Pita Platters, a Mediterranean stall you'll only find on the Believe.
Grown-ups get their own spots, including Palo Steakhouse, Enchanté by Chef Arnaud Lallement, a Little Mermaid piano lounge called Sea Notes, the Snow White-themed Wishing Well lounge, the Skygazers pub and the Haunted Mansion Parlor. The adults-only Quiet Cove has an infinity pool at the stern.
Pools and Water Fun
The family pool deck is themed to Mickey and Friends, with seven pools spread across tiered decks and a jumbo screen for movies. The AquaMouse, a 760-foot water ride that drops riders into a Mickey Mouse cartoon, returns with new Mickey and Minnie adventures. Toddlers and little ones get a Toy Story water area with a splash zone, wading pool and family waterslide.
Kids Clubs
Disney's Oceaneer Club for ages 3 to 10 has five themed areas, including Marvel Super Hero Academy, Fairytale Hall and Star Wars: Cargo Bay, and only on the Believe, a Monsters, Inc. entrance complete with a Mike Wazowski figure. It's a Small World Nursery offers babysitting for little ones from 6 months to 3 years, tweens ages 11 to 13 hang out at Edge, and teens 14 to 17 have Vibe and The Hideaway.
Parent Tip: Oaken's Table is built around Frozen sing-alongs, so a family rewatch of both Frozen movies before the trip makes that dinner even more fun.
Getting to Port Everglades from Los Angeles
Port Everglades sits in Fort Lauderdale, a short drive from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL). Several airlines fly nonstop from LAX to FLL, and the flight takes about five hours heading east. Miami International Airport is another option, though it's farther from the port.
Port Everglades, 1850 Eller Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316. Disney's exact cruise terminal will be listed in your booking documents, so check the details closer to sailing.
We always recommend flying in the day before your cruise, and that goes double for holiday sailings. Winter weather back east can scramble connecting flights, and a missed embarkation is the one thing a cruise can't fix. Many Fort Lauderdale hotels near the port offer cruise shuttles, which keep the morning easy with kids.
Parent Tip: Book a morning flight out of LAX the day before you sail. You'll land in Fort Lauderdale by evening, grab dinner, sleep, and head to the port rested.
Our Tips for Planning a Disney Believe Cruise with Kids
Choose four or five nights wisely: First-timers and families with toddlers often love four nights. Five nights adds an extra sea day or port, more time for the Encanto show and the pools.
Decide early on holiday dates: Christmas and New Year's sailings have the highest prices and the most demand, so lock in your category if you're set on them.
Budget for the extras: Gratuities, adult dining, specialty coffee, sweets, Wi-Fi and Port Adventures are not included in the fare.
Bring the right documents: Check Disney Cruise Line's travel document requirements for your sailing. We recommend passports for everyone, including kids.
Plan your Disney island days: Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay are the highlights for many kids. Check which islands your sailing visits before you book.
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The Takeaway
The Disney Believe won't sail until December 18, 2027, but this is the moment to plan. Holiday sailings start at $5,211 for two, January dates drop closer to half that, and the ship brings the first-ever Encanto musical, a Frozen family feast and a Moana Grand Hall to Fort Lauderdale.
Pick your dates, compare a couple of travel agency and Costco Travel quotes, and keep an eye on Disney's special offers. With a year of lead time, your family can sail Disney's newest ship without paying top dollar for every extra.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Disney Believe set sail?
The Disney Believe sets sail on its maiden voyage on December 18, 2027, a five-night Bahamian cruise from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale. Three more holiday sailings follow on December 23, December 27 and December 31, 2027, and the inaugural season runs through May 6, 2028.
How much does a Disney Believe cruise cost?
Starting prices for two guests range from $2,683 for an inside stateroom on the January 20–24, 2028, sailing to $6,444 for the maiden voyage. December holiday sailings start at $5,211 for two. Prices include taxes, fees and port expenses and change with demand.
Where does the Disney Believe sail from?
The Disney Believe sails from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Its four- and five-night itineraries visit Nassau, Cozumel and Disney's two island destinations, Disney Castaway Cay and Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. From Los Angeles, fly into Fort Lauderdale (FLL), just minutes from the port.
Can you get a discount on a Disney Believe cruise?
The maiden voyage can't be combined with any discount. For other sailings, families can add value with travel-agency onboard credit, a Costco Travel shop card, Disney Visa perks and onboard booking offers, and watch Disney's special offers page for resident and military rates. Choosing a January date saves the most.
What is new on the Disney Believe?
The Disney Believe debuts the first stage adaptation of Encanto, Oaken's Table: A Frozen Family Feast, a Moana-themed Grand Hall, a Zootopia entertainment hub, two new cafes, Pluto's Pita Platters and the two-story Believe Tower Suite inspired by Magic Kingdom Park.
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