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Members of Disney Vacation Club can book a “First Wave” sailing on the Disney Believe starting Saturday, November 21st, at 10:00am Eastern Time. Disney says the five-night voyage leaves Fort Lauderdale on January 5th, 2028, less than three weeks after the ship’s December 18th, 2027 maiden voyage. Stops include Disney Castaway Cay, Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, and Nassau. Booking is by phone only, and Member Services will hold dedicated hours that day. Here’s the latest.
Disney Believe DVC First Wave Sailing: January 2028 Itinerary & Booking Details
IN THIS ARTICLE:
- The January 2028 itinerary and what Disney says members will find onboard
- When and how Disney Vacation Club members can book on November 21st
- The payment rules, booking limits, and details to have ready for the call
The Disney Believe is the ninth ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet and the fourth in the Wish class, as we covered when Disney revealed its name in March. This sailing gives DVC members a look at the ship’s new dining, shows, and staterooms within weeks of its debut. Member booking opens about a month after the ship’s general on-sale begins on October 19th.
First Wave Itinerary and Onboard Highlights
Disney invites members to “know no bounds aboard the Disney Believe” as they discover wondrous worlds on the cruise. The voyage visits Disney Castaway Cay and Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, along with the tropical beaches of Nassau. Here’s the announced itinerary:
- Wednesday, January 5: Depart from Fort Lauderdale
- Thursday, January 6: Disney Castaway Cay
- Friday, January 7: Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point
- Saturday, January 8: At sea
- Sunday, January 9: Nassau, Bahamas
- Monday, January 10: Return to Fort Lauderdale
Onboard, Disney says guests can revel in three dining experiences. They include 1923, Worlds of Marvel, and Oaken’s Table, a new Frozen dining experience with live entertainment. The Walt Disney Theatre hosts the first-ever stage adaptation of Encanto, with returning favorites Tangled: The Musical and Seas the Adventure rounding out the lineup. Disney also highlights kids clubs designed for tweens and teens. We covered more of the ship’s venues in our full rundown of everything Disney revealed for the Disney Believe.
Staterooms come in Concierge, Verandah, Oceanview, and Inside categories. Disney Vacation Club suggests adding a stay at Walt Disney World Resort before or after the cruise. The resort sits about three hours from Fort Lauderdale.
Booking Window and Requirements
Disney says eligible members can call Member Services at (800) 800-9800 or (407) 566-3800 once the window opens at 10:00am Eastern Time on November 21st. Member Services will be open from 10:00am to 4:00pm that day exclusively for this sailing and for Resort arrivals within five days of November 21st. Disney expects longer-than-usual wait times because of the sailing’s popularity. Normal operations resume at 9:00am on Sunday, November 22nd.
Members can check out our earlier article for ship layouts and the general locations of each category. Popular stateroom categories may sell out quickly, so Disney asks members to have the following ready for each person in the party:
- Membership number
- First, second, and third stateroom category preferences
- Any special medical needs
- Castaway Club number, for repeat cruisers
- Legal name and middle initial as they appear on government-issued ID
- Home telephone number
- Citizenship or nationality
- Date of birth
The sailing belongs to the Disney Collection exchange and the Disney Vacation Club “First Wave” Member Experiences. Disney says that makes it a different offering from a Member Cruise. These are the rules Disney lists:
- Eligibility: Members must be eligible for Membership Extras benefits, and anyone on the Membership, including Associates, can make a reservation.
- Phone only: Member Services does not accept bookings by fax, email, live chat, or Member Online Booking, or in person at Member Lounges and Welcome Home Center locations.
- Payment: Members pay in full at booking, and Disney requires Reservation Points for the primary guest on each reservation. Other guests in the party can pay with cash, but a single guest cannot pay with a mix of points and cash. Disney accepts Disney Gift Cards, JCB, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover for cash payments.
- Fee: Disney Vacation Club waives the initial $95 transaction fee for this sailing.
- Stateroom limits: Each Membership can book up to 4 staterooms, and the Rule of Four does not apply.
- Sold out: Eligible members can join a waitlist by calling Member Services.
- Cruise policies: Disney Cruise Line does not allow infants under 6 months old on the embarkation date, and guests who have entered their 24th week of pregnancy by embarkation or will during the cruise cannot sail.
Disney has not released the points chart yet and says to keep checking its Member page for the sailing.
Keep Reading
- Our full look at everything Disney revealed for the Disney Believe covers the lounges, restaurants, suites, and shows members will find onboard.
- Disney confirmed the December 18th, 2027 maiden voyage and the Fort Lauderdale homeport during the October 7th livestream.
- We broke down the characters spotted in the ship’s name reveal video when Disney announced the Disney Believe in March.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!