Cruise Spotlight
Helping you find cruise ships you'll love
Disney Wish vs Carnival Dream
The Disney Wish was built in 2022. The Disney Wish is inspired by stories of wish fulfilment. You'll enter the ship through the Grand Hall which is themed after a castle with a large statue of Cinderella and a display of her glass slipper. Outside the ship, you'll see Rapunzel painting the name on the stern. It's 13 years newer 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 Wish is considered a medium size ship. Coming in at 1,119 feet long and 128 feet wide, it's roughly the length of 3.1 football fields, as wide as 2.4 tractor-trailers and the same height as a 15-story building. Compared to the Carnival Dream, the Wish is 13% larger in terms of overall tons.
Number of Passengers
Disney Wish holds about the same number of passengers as 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 Wish 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 Wish | Carnival Dream | |
|---|---|---|
| Class | Wish | Dream |
| Gross Tonnage | 144,000 | 128,000 |
| Length | 1,119 | 1,004 |
| Beam/Width | 128 | 122 |
| Passenger Decks | 15 | 14 |
| Passengers (double occupancy) | 4,000 | 3,646 |
| Crew | 1,555 | 1,367 |
| Passenger to Crew Ratio | 2.6 | 2.7 |
| Space Ratio (tons of ship per passenger) | 36 | 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 Wish has ten different dining options like Palo Steakhouse, Marceline Market, and Worlds of Marvel. Of those options, five are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other five options have an additional fee.
The Dream has four more dining venues. Some of its popular venues are Blue Iguana Cantina, The Chef's Table, and Mongolian Wok. 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 Wish.
If you're looking to avoid extra money while on board, the Dream might be a better choice then the Wish. More of the dining options are included in the base cruise fare, potentially saving you money.
| Disney Wish | Carnival Dream | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Dining Options | 10 | 14 |
| Complimentary Dining Options: | 5 | 14 |
| Additional Fee Dining Options: | 5 | 5 |
| % of Included Options | 50% | 64% |
| See the options | See the options |
In terms of drinks and cocktails, you have a variety of choices. The Wish 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 Wish has a total of 8 pools and 3 hot tubs. 1 of the pools and 2 of the hot tubs are exclusive access, which means there's either an extra charge to access them or you need to book a certain class of cabin to have access to them.
Carnival Dream has fewer pools than the Wish and more hot tubs. There are fewer exclusive pools and hot tubs on the Dream. If you like ships without extra charges or exclusive areas, this might be a better choice since everyone will have access to these areas.
Tired of loud kids and splashing? One of the pools and one of the hot tubs are adults only on Wish.| Disney Wish | Carnival Dream | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Pools | 8 | 2 |
| Pools - General Access | 6 | 2 |
| Pools - Adults Only | 1 | 0 |
| Pools - Exclusive | 1 | 0 |
| Total Hot Tubs | 3 | 8 |
| Hot Tubs - General Access | 6 | |
| Hot Tubs - Adults Only | 1 | 2 |
| Hot Tubs - Exclusive | 2 | 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 Wish, 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 Wish | Carnival Dream | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult Only Relaxation Area | ✓ | ✓ |
| Arcade | ✗ | ✓ |
| Basketball | ✓ | ✓ |
| Casino | ✗ | ✓ |
| Character experiences | ✓ | ✗ |
| Comedy Club | ✗ | ✓ |
| Dr Seuss Breakfast | ✗ | ✓ |
| Fitness Center | ✓ | ✓ |
| Jogging Track | ✗ | ✓ |
| Kid's Play Area | ✓ | ✗ |
| Mini golf | ✗ | ✓ |
| Movie Theater | ✓ | ✗ |
| Pool-side Movies | ✗ | ✓ |
| Salon | ✓ | ✗ |
| Shows - Broadway play | ✓ | ✗ |
| Shows - musical review | ✓ | ✗ |
| Spa | ✓ | ✗ |
| Splash park | ✗ | ✓ |
| Thermal Suites | ✗ | ✓ |
| Water Coaster | ✓ | ✗ |
| 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 Wish | 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.
Want to Stay Up-To-Date on All Things Cruising?
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, or subscribe to our monthly newsletter.
Articles Related the These Ships
About Cruise Spotlight
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.
Learn more about Cruise Spotlight.