My family and I have sailed on all five Disney Cruise Line ships, but Disney Fantasy is my favorite.
I love the Fantasy-exclusive venues, including a vintage-themed ice cream shop.
Disney Fantasy also has five European-inspired nightclubs, lounges, and bars.
My family and I have sailed on all five Disney Cruise Line (DCL) ships. Although each ship offers a unique experience, there's only one I'd consider traveling on again: Disney Fantasy.
The ship, which debuted in 2012, has 14 decks and some of my favorite onboard activities, including the AquaDuck water coaster and five adults-only lounges.
Here are some of the reasons I'd travel on Disney Fantasy again.
Disney Fantasy's size is just right.
The 1,115-foot-long Fantasy is larger than the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder, which are both 984 feet long and have 11 decks.
However, Disney Fantasy's separate family and adult areas make it easy to be entertained in a sea of up to 4,000 people. I love relaxing with a handful of guests in the cozy cafés and nooks or sunbathing in solitude.
I love the Fantasy-exclusive venues.
Each DCL ship has exclusives you won't find on other ships in its fleet, including restaurants and adults-only lounges.
For example, Disney Fantasy has Sweet on You, a vintage-themed ice-cream shop and confectionery inspired by classic Mickey Mouse shorts.
Other exclusives on Disney Fantasy include a Bvlgari shop and a trio of nightlife spots: Italian-style La Piazza bar, British nightclub The Tube, and French Champagne bar Ooh La La.
There's more aquatic fun on Disney Fantasy than most DLC ships.
Disney Fantasy has seven freshwater pools and water-play areas, including three family pools, two adult pools, and two splash areas. The only ship with more pools and water-play areas is Disney Wish, which has 10.
One of my favorite activities is the AquaDuck water coaster.
The AquaDuck, which is only found on this ship and Disney Dream, is a 765-foot water coaster that propels passengers in two-person rafts through a massive transparent tube.
The ride includes open-air portions that offer views of the ocean and a stomach-dropping four-deck drop.
The adults-only lounges have unique European themes.
Disney Fantasy has five European-inspired nightclubs, lounges, and bars located in one area called Europa. The Tube is a London Underground-themed venue, Ooh La La is themed around Champagne, O'Gill's is an Irish pub,and La Piazza has an Italian feel.
I also love the quiet but mesmerizing Skyline bar, which features changing "windows" of famous city skylines.
The Europa theme seamlessly flows from one venue to the next, and I love having the ability to barhop in one specific area of the ship.
I'm a fan of the ship's more subdued dining experiences.
Some Disney fans may prefer entertaining dining experiences, but I appreciate the more subdued dinners on Disney Fantasy.
I don't have children, so I appreciate being able to enjoy the Disney vibes without sitting through the over-the-top dinner dramas found on other ships.
I love visiting restaurants like the princess-themed Royal Court and the French-garden-themed Enchanted Garden. My favorite, however, is Animator's Palate, which celebrates Disney animation and is on every ship except Disney Wish.
I love relaxing in the Rainforest inside Senses Spa.
I always purchase a pass to the Rainforest within Senses Spa, which features aromatherapy showers, a steam room, and a sauna.
However, the Rainforests on Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream are the best because they each have two whirlpools set on a secluded ocean-view verandah. It's arguably the quietest, most relaxing part of the ship.
Overall, Disney Fantasy is my favorite ship — for now.
Right now, Disney Fantasy is my favorite ship because it has the most appealing adults-only options. From one of the best Rainforest set-ups to Europa's quintet of bars and lounges, I love spending time on this ship.
However, this could change with Disney's newest ships, Treasure and Destiny, set to embark on their maiden voyages in December 2024 and November 2025, respectively.