Will Disney will add any new ship to Alaska?

[Dreams&wishes]

Hi all just wondering what were your thoughts on Disney adding any new ship to Alaska.

I know they have just added the Magic, but if I'm really going to spend all those money I would ideally like a new ship and I have read that both Magic and Wonder are in need of TLC.

Just thinking of doing an Alaska cruise around 2027/2028.

Thanks

 

[AgentMama]

They'd have to bring it to the west coast. Doesn't seem likely, but who knows.

 

[anricat]

I wouldn't think so. I love the Magic and the Wonder and wouldn't hesitate for a second to sail on one of them.

 

[yowcruiser]

The Wonder and the Magic are getting plenty of TLC... at a rate of once every 3 years via scheduled drydocks. Sure, there can be a few issues that pop up from time to time that is a sign of their age, but they are arguably the best looking 25+ years old ships at sea.

 

[holula]

I don’t think we see a different ship in Alaska until the next class of ship starts to sail (ie, the 3000ish pax ships Disney announced.)

 

[Kwami]

For what it's worth, the Wonder is in great shape. I was somewhat disappointed in the state of the Magic when I sailed on it in 2022, but I didn't have anything to complain about at all when I sailed the on Wonder in 2023.

 

[Dreams&wishes]

But there are so many new ships coming where will they all go? Surely one could go to Alaska?

 

[Disneyworldlocal]

But there are so many new ships coming where will they all go? Surely one could go to Alaska?

The next U.S. based ship is scheduled for 2027. The next ship after that is already planned for Japan.
The general thought is that the 2027 Wish class ship will go to Florida and then the Dream or Wish would move to Galveston. Florida is Disneys bread and butter and basing a brand new ship there makes the most sense for generating revenue on a regular basis and to compete with all the new ships other cruise lines are putting in Florida Alaska is a May thru September season and then that ship moves on somewhere else. Alaska is about the destination and not really about the ship. That to me is why it’s most likely not going to be a new ship as people go to Alaska for Alaska.
The next class of ships start in 2030 and I could then see them putting one there at that time. They will be smaller and would fit the Alaska footprint better

 

[tvguy]

But there are so many new ships coming where will they all go? Surely one could go to Alaska?

Problem with Alaska is availability of permits and docking. And Juneau for one is limiting the total number of cruise ship passengers starting in 2026. I think the future of cruising in Alaska is going to be with smaller, not larger ships. Remember, Disney is the new kids on the block when it comes to cruising in Alaska.

 

[WDWLODGE]

They'd have to bring it to the west coast. Doesn't seem likely, but who knows.

Like AgentMama said they would have to change the departure port from Vancouver to the west coast because cruise ships sailing from Vancouver pass under the Lions Gate Bridge. The bridge has a clearance of 61 meters at high tide, and while it can accommodate many cruise ships, it does pose a restriction for the larger vessels. I believe the Dream class ships are 66 meters tall as it is.

 

[LAS2AMS]

but if I'm really going to spend all those money

In general, the Alaskan cruises cost less than those out Florida and even Europe. I wouldn’t expect a Wish-class ship traveling out of Alaska until at least 2029.

 

[Dreams&wishes]

Like AgentMama said they would have to change the departure port from Vancouver to the west coast because cruise ships sailing from Vancouver pass under the Lions Gate Bridge. The bridge has a clearance of 61 meters at high tide, and while it can accommodate many cruise ships, it does pose a restriction for the larger vessels. I believe the Dream class ships are 66 meters tall as it is.

What is the reason why they don't leave from Seattle?

 

[holula]

In general, the Alaskan cruises cost less than those out Florida and even Europe. I wouldn’t expect a Wish-class ship traveling out of Alaska until at least 2029.

The excursions in Alaska are a killer though. I live in the UK and I just switched my Alaska 7 night May 2026 cruise to a 9 night Europe cruise in June 2026 as it was actually cheaper for me once you considered airfare (obviously less of an issue from the U.S.) and excursions.

What is the reason why they don't leave from Seattle?

They did in 2012. The issue with Seattle is that they HAVE to make a stop at Victoria which eats into port time in Alaska.

I wish they would run 7n from Vancouver and then maybe try Seattle with a mix of itinerary lengths. If you are in Alaska for 9+ days then eating into port time with Victoria isn’t bad and you can make it a full day stop.

 

[Cfabar1]

The excursions in Alaska are a killer though. I live in the UK and I just switched my Alaska 7 night May 2026 cruise to a 9 night Europe cruise in June 2026 as it was actually cheaper for me once you considered airfare (obviously less of an issue from the U.S.) and excursions.


They did in 2012. The issue with Seattle is that they HAVE to make a stop at Victoria which eats into port time in Alaska.

I wish they would run 7n from Vancouver and then maybe try Seattle with a mix of itinerary lengths. If you are in Alaska for 9+ days then eating into port time with Victoria isn’t bad and you can make it a full day stop.

It's kind of funny... I would like to visit Victoria and was disappointed to see it removed from the Summer 2026 itineraries.

 

[Kwami]

The issue with Seattle is that they HAVE to make a stop at Victoria which eats into port time in Alaska.

Why do they HAVE to visit Victoria?

 

[Flossbolna]

Why do they HAVE to visit Victoria?

A round trip from US port needs to stop at a foreign port. Alaska ports are obviously not foreign. So they need to stop in Canada.

 

[Kwami]

A round trip from US port needs to stop at a foreign port. Alaska ports are obviously not foreign. So they need to stop in Canada.

Ah, right.

I've seen some other lines pull into Victoria for just a few hours in the morning, though. They make it work.

 

[WDWLODGE]

Ah, right.

I've seen some other lines pull into Victoria for just a few hours in the morning, though. They make it work.

The technical answer is Alaskan cruises are required to stop in Canada due to the Passenger Vessel Services Act (PVSA) of 1886. This law mandates that any foreign-flagged vessel transporting passengers between two US ports must stop at a foreign port. This law mandates that any foreign-flagged vessel transporting passengers between two US ports must stop at a foreign port.

 

[lanejudy]

Aren’t there size limits at some of the Alaska ports and/or viewing areas like Glacier Bay or Icy Strait? I thought I had read that once as a reason why the Dream class ships are not used for Alaska.

 

[Mommb]

The technical answer is Alaskan cruises are required to stop in Canada due to the Passenger Vessel Services Act (PVSA) of 1886. This law mandates that any foreign-flagged vessel transporting passengers between two US ports must stop at a foreign port. This law mandates that any foreign-flagged vessel transporting passengers between two US ports must stop at a foreign port.

A foreign-flagged vessel transporting passengers back and forth between the same US port (such as Seattle) must stop at a foreign port. That's why DCL can't have "cruises to nowhere" from US ports, as well as why cruises from Seattle to Alaska and back must stop in Canada.

A foreign-flagged vessel transporting passengers embarking at one US port and debarking at another US port must stop at a distant foreign port. Distant ports do not include Canada, Mexico, and much of the Caribbean. That's why, for example, DCL doesn't have one-way cruises from Hawaii to California or from Florida to Texas. There is an exception for Puerto Rico, which allows cruises from San Juan to Galveston and from Port Canaveral to San Juan.