Last updated: October 2026
Quick Answer: The Disney Believe’s inaugural season runs from the December 18, 2027 maiden voyage through May 2028, with 29 four- and five-night sailings from Fort Lauderdale to the Bahamas and Cozumel. The maiden voyage started around $6,444 for two in an inside stateroom, roughly double a similar five-night sailing in January 2028 (from about $3,444). If being on the very first sailing matters to your family, the maiden voyage is a once-only memory. If you mostly want a brand-new ship and a great trip, late January and February 2028 offer the best value of the season.
There’s nothing quite like stepping onto a ship that has never carried guests before. The paint is fresh, the crew is buzzing, and every family on board is discovering Encanto, Oaken’s Table, and the Moana Grand Hall for the very first time. That feeling comes with a price tag, though, and the gap between the first sailing and one a few weeks later is bigger than most families expect.
Below you’ll find every inaugural sailing, what each one starts at, which sailings fit which families, and our take on when the first season is worth the premium (and when it isn’t). For the full rundown on the ship itself, start with our Disney Believe guide.
What Are the Disney Believe Inaugural Sailings?
The inaugural season includes 29 sailings between December 18, 2027 and May 6, 2028, all round trip from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale. Every itinerary stops at one or both of Disney’s private destinations, Disney Castaway Cay and Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, and the five-night Western Caribbean sailings add Cozumel.
| Itinerary | Ports | Sailing Dates | Inside Stateroom From (2 Guests) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5-Night Maiden Voyage | Lookout Cay, Castaway Cay, Nassau, 1 sea day | Dec 18, 2027 | $6,444 |
| 4-Night Christmas Bahamian | Castaway Cay, Nassau, 1 sea day | Dec 23, 2027 | $5,211 |
| 4-Night Bahamian (both Disney islands) | Lookout Cay, Castaway Cay, 1 sea day | Dec 27, 2027; Mar 30, 2028 | $3,220 to $5,476 |
| 5-Night Western Caribbean | Cozumel, Castaway Cay, 2 sea days | Dec 31, 2027; Jan 15, Jan 29, Feb 12, Feb 26, Mar 11, Mar 25, Apr 8, 2028 | $3,180 to $6,030 |
| 5-Night Bahamian | Castaway Cay, Lookout Cay, Nassau, 1 sea day | Jan 10, Jan 24, Feb 7, Feb 21, Mar 6, Mar 20, Apr 3, Apr 17, Apr 22, May 1, 2028 | $3,444 to $4,344 |
| 4-Night Bahamian | Nassau, Lookout Cay, 1 sea day | Jan 20, Feb 3, Feb 17, Mar 2, Mar 16, Apr 13, Apr 27, 2028 | $2,683 to $3,619 |
Prices are the lowest inside stateroom fares for two guests as reported at release, including taxes, fees, and port expenses. Disney adjusts pricing often, so current fares may differ.
Where the Best Values Are
- Lowest fare of the season: the four-night sailing on January 20, 2028, from about $2,683 for two.
- Best five-night value: January 15, 2028 (Western Caribbean) and January 10 or 24, 2028 (Bahamian), all in the $3,100 to $3,500 range.
- Priciest stretch: the holiday run from December 18 to January 5, plus mid-March and early April, when spring break demand pushes fares up.
Is the Disney Believe Maiden Voyage Worth the Price?
The maiden voyage is worth it for families who want the bragging rights and the once-only atmosphere of a ship’s very first sailing. For everyone else, the same ship, shows, and restaurants cost about half as much a few weeks later. Here’s how the December 18 sailing compares with a very similar five-night Bahamian cruise in January 2028.
| Maiden Voyage (Dec 18, 2027) | 5-Night Bahamian (Jan 10, 2028) | |
|---|---|---|
| Ports | Lookout Cay, Castaway Cay, Nassau | Castaway Cay, Lookout Cay, Nassau |
| Inside from (2 guests) | $6,444 | $3,444 |
| Oceanview from | $6,764 | Not yet reported |
| Verandah from | $7,134 | Not yet reported |
| Concierge from | $17,074 | Not yet reported |
| Holiday pricing | Yes, the start of the holiday season | No |
Part of that gap is the holidays (December fares run high across the whole fleet), and part is the novelty of being first. The two stack, which is why the maiden voyage is the most expensive sailing of the season.
What You Get on an Inaugural Sailing
- Everything brand new, from the staterooms to the Encanto stage show that plays only on the Believe.
- A crew that’s excited to show it off. Opening Cruise Director Trent Hitchcock will be on board for the maiden voyage and the inaugural season.
- The first-to-sail moment that families talk about for years.
The Trade-Offs
- The highest prices of the season, especially over the holidays.
- Stricter terms on the maiden voyage, reported as a 10 percent non-refundable deposit and no date changes.
- Small first-sailing kinks while the crew settles into a brand-new ship.
Our Take on the Inaugural Season: If your family is the kind that lines up for opening day, the maiden voyage is a memory you can’t buy later, and we’ll help you go for it. Most of our families, though, get more out of a sailing in late January or February 2028. You still sail on a ship that’s only weeks old, fares drop by thousands, and you can put the savings toward a verandah, Palo, or Port Adventures.
Not sure whether the maiden voyage or a 2028 sailing is the better fit? Our Disney cruise specialists will help you compare sailings, staterooms, and budgets so you can choose with confidence.
Which Inaugural Sailing Is Right for Your Family?
| If Your Family… | Look At |
|---|---|
| Wants to be first, whatever it costs | The December 18, 2027 maiden voyage |
| Wants a Christmas or New Year’s cruise | December 23 (Christmas) or December 31 (New Year’s, Western Caribbean) |
| Is trying a Disney cruise for the first time | A four-night Bahamian sailing in late January or February 2028 |
| Wants the most value from five nights | January 10, 15, or 24, 2028 |
| Needs to travel over spring break | March and early April 2028 (expect higher fares than late January and February) |
| Loves Disney’s private islands | Dec 27, 2027 or Mar 30, 2028, which visit both Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay |
How We Can Help You Plan Your Disney Believe Cruise
Choosing between 29 sailings, several stateroom categories, and two very different price points is a lot to sort through on your own. As an EarMarked by Disney Authorized Travel Agency, The Enchanted Traveler is your personal Disney cruise expert from the first question to the moment you’re home. Here’s what that looks like:
- Finding the right fit for your family: we’ll help you weigh the maiden voyage against a later sailing, four nights against five, and which stateroom works for your crew.
- Coordinating multigenerational trips: if grandparents, cousins, or several families are sailing together, we line up staterooms, dining, and plans so everyone stays together. We also become the central sources for handling payments and decisions so you aren’t stuck chasing family members down.
- Keeping track of deadlines: we’ll remind you about payment dates, online check-in, and the windows for onboard reservations, so nothing slips by.
- Booking onboard reservations and Port Adventures: we advise on and book on board activities and shore excursions at Castaway Cay, Lookout Cay, Nassau, and Cozumel.
You get expert guidance at every step, and you get to enjoy the anticipation instead of managing the details.
Ready to plan your Disney Believe cruise? Let’s find the sailing that fits your family.
Disney Believe Inaugural Sailings FAQ
The maiden voyage departs December 18, 2027 from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale. It’s a five-night cruise to Disney Lookout Cay, Disney Castaway Cay, and Nassau.
Inside staterooms started around $6,444 for two guests at release, with verandahs from about $7,134 and Concierge from about $17,074. Prices change often.
There are 29 inaugural sailings between December 18, 2027 and May 6, 2028, all four or five nights from Fort Lauderdale.
The five-night Bahamian sailings (including the maiden voyage) and the four-night sailings on December 27, 2027 and March 30, 2028 visit both Disney Castaway Cay and Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point.
The four-night Bahamian cruise on January 20, 2028 has the lowest starting fare of the season, around $2,683 for two in an inside stateroom.
Yes, if being on a brand-new ship matters to you. Families focused on value usually do best with a late January or February 2028 sailing, when the ship is still new and fares are much lower.
Sources: Disney Parks Blog, Disney Cruise Line, Chip and Company, WDW News Today, and The Disney Cruise Line Blog.
About the Author: Sabrina Tinius is a Disney strategy specialist and founder of The Enchanted Traveler, an EarMarked by Disney Authorized Travel Agency. Since 2012, she and her team of travel advisors have built custom Disney vacations and handled every detail of travel for thousands of families.
Artwork/Properties: ©Disney Ships Registry: Bahamas
