Disney Dream made its first Funchal stop on repositioning voyage. Disney Wish returns to Madeira in May 2027 during European debut season.
via Cruise Maven/Published Sep 25, 2026/2 min read
Photo: Stratocaster27 (CC BY-SA 3.0), via Wikimedia Commons
The Disney Dream made its maiden call in Funchal, Madeira on September 16, bringing nearly 2,650 passengers and more than 1,400 crew members to the Portuguese island. The visit marked a significant milestone for both the destination and Disney Cruise Line's European operations, complete with a formal plaque exchange between ship and local officials.
The 2011-built vessel is currently repositioning from its summer European season back to Florida. The 13-night trans-Atlantic crossing began in Southampton and includes stops in Vigo and Lisbon before the Disney Dream reaches Port Everglades later in September. Once stationed in Fort Lauderdale, the ship will shift to Caribbean and Bahamian cruises ranging from three to seven nights.
Disney Cruise Line plans to expand its Madeira presence. The newer Disney Wish, delivered in 2022, will visit Funchal in May 2027 during its own trans-Atlantic repositioning from Port Canaveral to Barcelona. That same 13-night voyage also stops in Gibraltar and Cartagena before the Disney Wish begins its inaugural European season, offering seven- to ten-night Mediterranean itineraries from Spanish and Italian ports.
For passengers booking Disney cruises this fall and winter, the Disney Dream now offers Caribbean options from South Florida. Those interested in European summer travel should note Disney's growing Madeira access and the Disney Wish's first-ever Mediterranean schedule beginning in spring 2027.
Originally reported by Cruise Maven, Cruise Maven News (September 24, 2026).
