Josh D’Amaro — Chairman of Disney Experiences — unveiled on August 10, 2024, at D23: The Ultimate Fan Event Presented by Visa that four new ships will be joining Disney Cruise Line’s award-winning fleet, including an additional ship in the Wish class and three ships in a new ship class. The ships will debut between 2027 and 2031.
“Disney Cruise Line is consistently the top-rated cruise line for families because it offers something for everyone. Expanding our fleet gives more people, in more parts of the world, the opportunity to experience a vacation at sea like only Disney can provide,” Josh D’Amaro, Chairman of Disney Experiences, said at Horizons: Disney Experiences Showcase.
The three vessels in Disney’s new ship class will feature industry-leading technology and design to expand Disney Cruise Line’s global reach and support its environmental goals. Able to carry 3,000 Guests and measuring approximately 100,000 gross tons, they will be 20 percent larger than the Disney Magic class and smaller than the Disney Dream and Disney Wish classes, ultimately allowing Disney Cruise Line to access more ports and destinations across the globe, bringing world-class entertainment, incredible dining, Guest service, and uniquely Disney experiences to more families in more places.
“As we expand our fleet, it is important that we continue to provide a variety of experiences for our Guests. Families enjoy the diversity of vacations we offer, from our classic vessels to our Wish-class ships. They also expect to explore a broad range of destinations, including those that prefer to host smaller ships,” said Thomas Mazloum, president, New Experiences Portfolio & Disney Signature Experiences. “At the same time, we are focused on implementing new technology and designs that align with our longstanding commitment to the environment.”
Among the lightest cruise ships of their size in the industry, the new vessels will save fuel with a streamlined hull, next-generation power and propulsion systems, and numerous other operations optimized for energy efficiency. In addition to an innovative design and the efficient use of building materials from bow to stern, the ships will be outfitted with energy-efficient systems and a battery system to support and supplement the main engines.
When in port, the new vessels can rely on shore power technology to turn off their engines and “plug in” to a port’s energy grid to run onboard systems. They will also have the capability and flexibility to operate on a variety of fuels, including hydrotreated vegetable oil and renewable methanol fuels, while remaining adaptable to additional fuel options that become available to the cruise industry. The new class will also continue Disney Cruise Line’s long-standing initiatives to minimize waste, conserve water and align with The Walt Disney Company’s 2030 environmental goals.
“Our team of Disney Imagineers is dreaming up this new class of ships to be as fuel and energy efficient as possible, and our Guests will see the difference – from a more hydrodynamic design to lighter materials and energy-efficient technology throughout the ships,” said Philip Gennotte, Portfolio Project Management Executive, Walt Disney Imagineering. “We’re very proud to continue to support Disney’s broader environmental goals, now and into the future.”
In addition to this new class of vessel, Disney Cruise Line will introduce an additional sister ship to the Disney Wish (2022), Disney Treasure (2024), and Disney Destiny (2025). The ship, set for delivery in 2027, will be approximately 144,000 gross tons, accommodate 4,000 Guests, and be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG).
This expansion continues a period of growth for Disney Cruise Line, which currently has a fleet of six ships. The Disney Destiny, which will homeport at Port Everglades, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida., and the Disney Adventure, which will homeport in Singapore, are slated to set sail in late 2025, and the recently announced relationship with Disney and Oriental Land Co., Ltd. (OLC) will bring Disney cruise vacations to Japan in 2029. With all of the announced projects, the Disney Cruise Line fleet will expand to a total of 13 by 2031. Additional details about onboard experiences, itineraries, and designs are still in development and will be shared at a later date.
