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Disney Magic vs Carnival Dream
The Disney Magic was built in 1998. It was renovated in 2013. Disney Magic's exterior has a old-school steam boat feel while the interior leans into the Art Deco styling. Outside the ship, you'll see Goofy painting the name on the stern. It's 11 years older than the Dream, which was built in 2009.
Comparison Overview
- Ship Size
- Number of Passengers
- Food and Restaurants
- Bars and Drinks
- Pools and Hot Tubs
- Ship Features and Activities
- Cruise Costs
- Onboard Costs
Ship Size
The Magic is considered a small size ship. Coming in at 984 feet long and 106 feet wide, it's roughly the length of 2.7 football fields, as wide as 2 tractor-trailers and the same height as a 11-story building. Compared to the Carnival Dream, the Magic is 34% smaller in terms of overall tons.
Number of Passengers
Disney Magic holds 52% fewer passengers than the Dream based on double occupancy (two people per room). When you compare the total tonnage of the ship to the number of passengers, or what we call the "Space Ratio," the Magic has more space per person compared to the Dream. This means that you might have a bit more space to yourself on the ship, although there still could be some crowded areas like buffets, pools, etc.
| Disney Magic | Carnival Dream | |
|---|---|---|
| Class | Magic | Dream |
| Gross Tonnage | 84,000 | 128,000 |
| Length | 984 | 1,004 |
| Beam/Width | 106 | 122 |
| Passenger Decks | 11 | 14 |
| Passengers (double occupancy) | 1,750 | 3,646 |
| Crew | 950 | 1,367 |
| Passenger to Crew Ratio | 1.8 | 2.7 |
| Space Ratio (tons of ship per passenger) | 48 | 35 |
Food and Restaurants
Food is a big part of any cruise, and the ship you choose can make a huge difference in your food experience.
The Magic has ten different dining options like Duck-in Diner, Palo, and Rapunzel's Royal Table. Of those options, eight are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other two options have an additional fee.
The Dream has four more dining venues. Some of its popular venues are Guy's Burger Joint, The Chef's Table, and Pizzeria del Capitano. fourteen of these restaurants are complementary and the other five have an additional fee.
If you like having a variety of places to eat, the Dream might be a better choice. It has 40% more dining options than the Magic.
If you're looking to avoid extra money while on board, the Magic might be a better choice then the Dream. More of the dining options are included in the base cruise fare, potentially saving you money.
| Disney Magic | Carnival Dream | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Dining Options | 10 | 14 |
| Complimentary Dining Options: | 8 | 14 |
| Additional Fee Dining Options: | 2 | 5 |
| % of Included Options | 80% | 64% |
| See the options | See the options |
In terms of drinks and cocktails, you have a variety of choices. The Magic serves Coca Cola branded products. That includes drinks like Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite and Barqs Root Beer, although the selection can vary by ship. The Dream serves the Pepsi family of products. That means Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Starry, Mug Root Beer, and Mountain Dew.
There are also plenty of bars available on these ships. You can check out recent the bar menus for the Dream below.
Pools and Hot Tubs
Nothing beats relaxing by a pool with a nice drink in hand as you feel the fresh sea breeze pass by you. The Disney Magic has a total of 3 pools and 4 hot tubs.
Carnival Dream has fewer pools than the Magic and more hot tubs.
Tired of loud kids and splashing? One of the pools and two of the hot tubs are adults only on Magic.| Disney Magic | Carnival Dream | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Pools | 3 | 2 |
| Pools - General Access | 2 | 2 |
| Pools - Adults Only | 1 | 0 |
| Pools - Exclusive | 0 | |
| Total Hot Tubs | 4 | 8 |
| Hot Tubs - General Access | 2 | 6 |
| Hot Tubs - Adults Only | 2 | 2 |
| Hot Tubs - Exclusive | 0 |
Ship Features and Activities
Both ships have lots of activities to keep you busy throughout your cruise. Below you'll see a list of some of the major features on these ships. On the Magic, 83% of the activities below are included in the cruise fare. On the Dream, only 69% of the activities are included, meaning you might spend more money while on board.
| Disney Magic | Carnival Dream | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult Only Relaxation Area | ✓ | ✓ |
| Arcade | ✗ | ✓ |
| Basketball | ✓ | ✓ |
| Casino | ✗ | ✓ |
| Character experiences | ✓ | ✗ |
| Comedy Club | ✗ | ✓ |
| Dr Seuss Breakfast | ✗ | ✓ |
| Fitness Center | ✓ | ✓ |
| Jogging Track | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mini golf | ✗ | ✓ |
| Movie Theater | ✓ | ✗ |
| Pool-side Movies | ✗ | ✓ |
| Salon | ✓ | ✗ |
| Shows - Broadway play | ✓ | ✗ |
| Shows - musical review | ✓ | ✗ |
| Spa | ✓ | ✗ |
| Splash park | ✓ | ✓ |
| Thermal Suites | ✗ | ✓ |
| Water slides | ✓ | ✓ |
| Learn more | Learn more |
Cruise Costs
Disney is a premium cruise line. Premium cruise lines typically offer upscale food, accommodations, and service. These typically cost about $150 - $400 per person per day.
Carnival, on the other hand, is considered a mainstream cruise line. Mainstream cruise lines cater to a variety of guests, hoping to provide something for everyone. These typically cost about $100 - $350 per person per day.
Cruise pricing is dynamic and varies for each specific sailing based on factors such as departure point, ports of call, and time of year. To get a good idea of how the pricing compares, visit the cruise line's website to price out the separate cruises or consult a travel professional.
Onboard Costs
Another way to gauge the cost of a cruise is to consider how much you'll spend on board. Even though a lot is included in the base cruise fare, you may still spend money on things like spa treatments, specialty dining, drinks, and excursions. In addition, guests can also have to pay for things like gratuities and tips.
Typically guests can expect to spend about 25 - 40% of the cost of the cruise on onboard expenses. In other words, if the cruise fare is $1,000 per person, you might spend between $250 and $400 on extra expenses.
The table below will help you compare onboard prices to see if you might spend more on a specific ship.
| Disney Magic | Carnival Dream | |
|---|---|---|
| Base Daily Gratuities* (Per Person Per Day) | $16.00 | $16.00 |
| Tip added to drinks & services | 18% | 18% |
| Soda Price | Included | $3.00 |
| Domestic Beer Price | $6.50 | $8.75 See drink menus |
| Drink Package Price | No drink package available | $83 - $88 Learn more |
| Internet Plan | $12 - $36 per device per day | $18.70 to $23.80 per device per day |
| *Daily gratuities for a standard cabin. Suites or specialty rooms may have higher rates. | ||
With Disney Cruises, soda is included for meals, but will have an extra cost at bars and throughout the day. While no drink packages are available, you can preorder bottles of wine or beer at a discount.
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Founded in 2020, Cruise Spotlight's goal is to help people understand every aspect of cruising. Plenty of sites focus on the perfect Instagram pictures and marketing fluff. We focus on what really matters: onboard expenses, tips for cruise ships, detailed cruise reviews, and more. Our goal is to provide helpful, unbiased information to new and established cruisers. Over the years, we've helped millions of people get the most from their cruise vacation.
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