A Disney Cruise Line vacation does not have to end after one sailing. Some guests book consecutive itineraries on different ships—a setup known as a side-by-side cruise—to experience more than one vessel during the same trip.
Unlike a traditional back-to-back cruise, which keeps guests on the same ship for consecutive sailings, a side-by-side booking requires guests to leave one ship and board another. Chris Vorobek recently sailed five nights on the Disney Fantasy followed by three nights on the Disney Wish, sharing his experience on the DCL Show.
The appeal is straightforward: guests can compare the ships’ dining, entertainment and layouts while extending their vacation. Vorobek, who has sailed on the Fantasy 11 times, said he prefers the layout of Disney Cruise Line’s Dream-class ships, but he also found value in experiencing entertainment on both vessels. Both of his sailings were Halloween on the High Seas cruises, allowing him to take part in the seasonal programming twice.
There is also a loyalty-program consideration. Two separate sailings count as two completed cruises toward Disney Cruise Line’s Castaway Club program.
The tradeoff is the transfer day. Guests switching ships must collect their luggage, clear customs and complete check-in again. Vorobek’s move between the Fantasy and the Wish at Port Canaveral involved instructions from the first ship, transportation between terminals and time waiting outdoors. He advised against rushing off the first ship, since the next ship must complete its own debarkation process before new guests can board.
Planning Your Trip
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Travelers considering a side-by-side itinerary should review each sailing’s schedule and plan for online check-in, luggage handling and transportation between terminals. They should not assume the second ship will use the same terminal as the first, according to the DCL Show discussion. The hosts also flagged onboard credits, possible Castaway Club status changes and early-trip laundry planning as details to consider.
For Vorobek, the chance to sail two ships and see different entertainment outweighed the inconvenience of changing vessels. The format may be a better fit for experienced Disney cruisers who enjoy comparing ships than for travelers seeking an uninterrupted, low-effort vacation.
