For the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, it is a major contract; for Disney Cruise Line, it marks a “new chapter” in the cruise market: some details of the US cruise line’s fleet expansion have now been released.
At a fan event in the US, the Disney Group announced its intention to embark on a new chapter at sea from 2029 with three vessels of the new class.
The ships are expected to fall between the classic and newer Disney Cruise Line vessels in terms of size. The new additions will therefore be larger than the “Disney Magic” and “Disney Wonder”, each with a gross tonnage of 83,000, but smaller than the “Disney Wish” and its sister ships, each with a gross tonnage of 140,000. “This puts them in an ideal position to call at new destinations and creates exciting opportunities for future itineraries and new experiences around the world,” the statement said.
The ships are being built at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, for which the contract represents a crucial component in a challenging financial situation. The US cruise line has been a regular customer of the shipyard since 2010. With the completion of the newbuilds by 2031, the fleet will then consist of a total of 13 cruise ships.
Before the new class of ships is launched, Disney Cruise Line is expanding its existing Wish class with a fourth vessel. Accordingly, the “Disney Believe” is set to set sail at the end of 2027. A hallmark of this class of ships is a unique theme for each vessel, which runs like a common thread through the entire guest experience. It shapes the entertainment, venues and design on board.
When the “Disney Believe” sets sail on its maiden voyage at the end of 2027, guests can therefore look forward to a whole host of new venues and entertainment experiences, inspired by some of the most popular Disney stories. These include, amongst others, the worlds of “Encanto”, “Frozen” and “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”. Journeys into the depths of the sea will also form part of the concept, inspired by “Moana” and “The Little Mermaid”.
In keeping with Disney Cruise Line’s long-standing tradition, each new ship will feature its own distinctive design elements at the bow and stern, “which lend every ship a nostalgic touch of Disney magic”, according to the cruise line. The stern of the Disney Believe will be adorned with larger-than-life sculptures of “Woody” and “Buzz Lightyear”. The artwork is intended to give the impression that the popular duo from the ‘Toy Story’ films are working together to write the ship’s name on the stern using large yellow crayons. Instead of the curved calligraphy customary on Disney Cruise Line ships, they will use a playful typeface reminiscent of the well-known block letters from the film series.
The bow of the Disney Believe will be adorned with a delicate, hand-painted ornament depicting ‘Tinker Bell’ in her original form from the 1953 Walt Disney Animation Studios classic ‘Peter Pan’. She will be accompanied by the silhouettes of ‘Peter’, ‘Wendy’, ‘Captain Hook’ and other characters from the film, who are depicted flying through the air amidst the curving design.
