Disney Believe DVC First Wave Sailing: How to Book

If you own Disney Vacation Club points and you’ve been eyeing the newest Disney Cruise Line ship, mark your calendar now. Disney Vacation Club just announced the Disney Believe DVC First Wave sailing, a members-first booking window on one of the ship’s earliest voyages.

It’s a 5-night Bahamian cruise departing January 5, 2028, from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale. It stops at both Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. Booking opens Saturday, November 21, 2026, and there’s a big catch: you can only book by phone.

This isn’t the maiden voyage. The Disney Believe’s first sailing is December 18, 2027. But this is still one of the first chances to get onboard, and it gives DVC members a head start before demand ramps up. The booking rules are also different from a normal DVC cruise, so it pays to read the fine print before November 21. Here’s everything you need to know.

Quick Summary

• The sailing: 5-night Bahamian cruise on the Disney Believe, January 5 to 10, 2028, from Fort Lauderdale.
• Ports: Castaway Cay, Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, and Nassau, plus one sea day.
• Booking opens: Saturday, November 21, 2026, at 10:00 am ET, by phone only.
• Payment: Full payment at booking. The lead guest must pay with Reservation Points. Others can pay cash.
• Perks: DVC waives the $95 transaction fee, and the Rule of Four doesn’t apply.
• Limits: Up to 4 staterooms per Membership. Resale points acquired after March 21, 2011, aren’t eligible.

The Disney Believe DVC First Wave Sailing Itinerary

The itinerary hits two Disney private island destinations in one short cruise. That’s a strong lineup for a 5-night trip.

• Day 1 (Jan. 5): Depart Fort Lauderdale
• Day 2 (Jan. 6): Castaway Cay
• Day 3 (Jan. 7): Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point
• Day 4 (Jan. 8): At sea
• Day 5 (Jan. 9): Nassau, Bahamas
• Day 6 (Jan. 10): Return to Fort Lauderdale

Two private islands back to back is the real draw here. Lookout Cay is Disney’s newer destination on Eleuthera, so if you haven’t been yet, this cruise covers it. The sea day lands right in the middle, which gives you a full day to explore the new ship.

How to Book the First Wave Sailing

Booking opens Saturday, November 21, 2026, at 10:00 am Eastern Time. Phone is the only option.

• Call Member Services at (800) 800-9800 or (407) 566-3800.
• On November 21, Member Services will handle only this Disney Believe booking from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm ET.
• Normal operations resume Sunday, November 22, at 9:00 am ET.

You can’t book by fax, email, live chat, the Member Online Booking tool, or in person at a DVC Member Lounge or Welcome Home Center. Expect longer wait times than usual.

My tip: Call right at 10:00 am, use speakerphone, and have everything below laid out in front of you before you dial. Phone-only launches reward the people who are ready the second someone picks up.

What to have ready before you call

Gather this for yourself and everyone in your party:

• Membership Number
• First, second, and third stateroom category choices
• Any special medical needs
• Castaway Club Number, if you have one
• Legal name and middle initial, exactly as it appears on government-issued ID
• Home phone number
• Citizenship or nationality
• Date of birth

Have your payment method ready too. Full payment is collected at the time of booking.

How Payment Works

This is the part that trips people up. The First Wave sailing is part of the Disney Collection exchange. It is not a dedicated Member Cruise.

• At least one person, the primary lead guest on the reservation, must have their portion paid with Reservation Points.
• Other guests in your party can pay with cash.
• You can’t mix points and cash for a single guest.
• DVC is waiving the standard $95 transaction fee for this booking.

Accepted cash payment methods are Disney Gift Card, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, and JCB. Have your card number, expiration date, and cardholder name ready.

Point costs per stateroom category weren’t included in the announcement. Ask Member Services on the call, and make sure you know how many points you have available before November 21.

Who Is Eligible

• You must be eligible for Membership Extras benefits.
• Anyone on the Membership, including Associates, can make the reservation.
• You can book up to 4 staterooms per Membership.
• The Rule of Four doesn’t apply to this booking.
• Members who bought their ownership interests from someone other than Disney, effective March 21, 2011, can’t use those points for this sailing.

If the sailing sells out, you can join a waitlist through Member Services.

What’s Onboard the Disney Believe

The Disney Believe is the fourth Wish-class ship, built around a theme of promise and possibility. Here’s what you can look forward to.

• Dining: Three dining venues, 1923, Worlds of Marvel, and Oaken’s Table, a Frozen-themed restaurant.
• Entertainment: The first-ever stage adaptation of Encanto, plus Tangled: The Musical and Seas the Adventure.
• Staterooms: Four categories, inside, oceanview, verandah, and concierge.

Disney also just revealed the ship’s sweets and lounges, including an Inside Out sweet shop and three new themed lounges. Get the full menu breakdown in our guide to Disney Believe food and drinks.

Should You Book It?

If you’re a DVC member who wants to be on the Believe early, this is your best shot. It’s one of the ship’s first sailings, it hits both private islands, and DVC is waiving the transaction fee.

The tradeoff is flexibility. Full payment is due when you book, and January 2028 is a long way out. Check your cancellation options with Member Services before you commit. And if you own resale points, confirm which of your points are eligible before you call.

The Bottom Line

The Disney Believe DVC First Wave sailing gives members an early spot on Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship: a 5-night Bahamas cruise on January 5, 2028, with stops at Castaway Cay, Lookout Cay, and Nassau. Booking opens November 21, 2026, at 10:00 am ET, by phone only, and full payment is due at booking. Remember the key rules: the lead guest pays with points, DVC waives the $95 fee, and you can book up to four staterooms. Get your info ready now, set an alarm, and call right at 10. Keep checking DisMornings for more Disney Believe news as the debut gets closer.

20% Off site-wide, plus Free Shipping on all orders of $65+

Over 75+ Designs! Your next park shirt is just a click away

Looking To Book Your Dream Disney Vacation?

Save time & money on your vacation

Your Disney vacation should create unforgettable memories that last a lifetime.

Whether you’re a first-time Disney vacationer or looking to plan your next magical adventure, it isn’t enough just to go on a Disney vacation. We want you to talk about your vacation for years to come and create memories you’ll cherish forever. Vacation is calling! Are you ready to answer?

REQUEST QUOTE

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
 Jonathan Cotton 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
I’m no stranger to Disney planning, as a Disneyland magic key holder and DVC member. I’m the person people ask for trip planning advice. But I had never been on a Disney cruise, and had heard great about Nate and decided to reach out. I’m so glad I did because we could not have been happier with our experience. His tips and insights were incredibly helpful, and he was incredibly responsive any time we had a question. Who do the Disney experts turn to when they need help? Nate, that’s who.

We’ll definitely be using him again.
  
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
 Andria Skornik 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
Our experience working with Nate as our Disney vacation planner was exceptional. He was responsive and thorough. He gave us insights that made the trip go much more smoothly. We were able to really relax and focus on quality time as a family and have so much fun doing it! I will definitely reach out for any future trips.
  
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
 rpwoodjr 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
Could not have wanted or expected more from Nate, our Distrips and More agent as we planned our 2025 Disney World trip. Nate was VERY responsive to emails and texts and more than willing to do whatever he could to guide us and answer our questions.  On several occasions I emailed him over the weekend not expecting a response until Monday but each time he responded before the weekend was over.  He even participated in a Zoom session with our group of five seniors as we planned our trip. He also helped us at the 11th hour when we added a family member to our travel group less than a month before our trip.  Without a doubt, I will reach out to Nate when I'm ready to plan my next trip to Disney World!
  
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
 Homero Rendon 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
We are so thankful we used Nate to plan not only our first Disney trip, but also our second. He made the process so easy for us, especially for us since it was our first time going. There was a lot to consider and many decisions to make, such as where to stay, when to go, and what to experience. Nate really helped us narrow down what we wanted to do overall, but he didn’t stop there. He provided detailed guides to help us navigate the airport and find our transportation to the resort, as well as a guide to explore the resorts and make sure we saw the best Christmas decorations. One of the many amazing things he also did was set up our dinner reservations for us. This saved us so much stress and allowed us to get some of our top choices. From the moment we landed in Orlando to the moment we headed back home, he made sure everything went smoothly. You truly can’t go wrong with going to him for your next trip.
  
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
 Lee Mathes 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
Nate was absolutely the best planner I have ever had.  Will most definitely be using him again.   He took care of everything and kept me on track.  Was so very helpful in making all the dining reservations and everything.   Can't thank him enough.   He made our trip completely stress free!
  
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
 Amanda Moran 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
Nathan has been an amazing trip planner for me! So helpful and responsive. I am a very type A person -- so someone who is even more on top of their game than me -- is so so appreciated! Nathan has booked 3 trips for me (1 completed 2 pending) and it was perfection. Thanks again!
  
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
 Hyperion Adventures Podcast 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
Nate has helped us with our vacation planning for the last couple of years and we couldn't be happier with his service and expertise. We've used other travel agents in the past and none of them have done as phenomenal a job to make sure every detail is taken care of as he has. Switching to Nate was one of the best decisions we've ever made. He's always quick to answer questions and works tirelessly to make sure we get everything we want from our trips. Plus, he's just a genuinely great person who is wonderful to work with. Whether you're planning a trip to Walt Disney World, Disneyland, a Disney Cruise, or any other vacation, Nate is the guy you want putting it all together! Five stars across the board!
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Google rating score: 5.0 of 5, based on 7 reviews 
 
   
 
 

Meet the Author: Nate Bishop

I’m a die-hard Disney fan with 38 years of visits under my belt, having stepped into Disney World 120+ times. Proud to be a Disney Annual Passholder, a Vacation Club member since ’92, a Castaway Club Member, and a runDisney enthusiast. Oh, and I’ve graduated from the Disney College of Knowledge. Need Disney insights or planning tips? I’m your guy!