Disney acquires a partially completed ship to add to the Disney Cruise Line fleet

Nov 16, 2022 in "The Walt Disney Company"

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Disney Cruise Line Announces Acquisition of Ship

Posted: Wednesday November 16, 2022 4:19pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Disney has today announced the acquisition of a partially completed ship to expand the Disney Cruise Line fleet and to travel to new global destinations from 2025.

Disney Cruise Line Announces Acquisition of Ship

Disney will work with the Meyer Werft shipbuilding company to complete the cruise ship previously known as the Global Dream in Wismar, Germany. The ship will be renamed with certain features reimagined by Walt Disney Imagineers and is expected to set sail in 2025.

“Our cruise ships give us the unique opportunity to bring Disney magic to fans no matter where they are, and the addition of this ship will make a Disney Cruise Line vacation accessible to more families than ever before,” said Josh D’Amaro, chairman, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products.

The new ship, to be based outside the United States, will feature innovative Disney experiences and the exterior will be adorned in the iconic, Mickey Mouse-inspired colors of the fleet, complete with signature red funnels.

The 208,000-gross-ton ship is expected to be among the first in the cruise industry to be fueled by green methanol, one of the lowest emission fuels available. Disney Cruise Line expects the passenger capacity to be approximately 6,000 with around 2,300 crew members. In comparison, the new Disney Wish can carry 4000 passengers.

Construction will be completed at the former MV Werften shipyard in Wismar, Germany, under the management of Meyer Werft, the Papenburg-based company that built the Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy and Disney Wish. The ship’s previous owner filed for bankruptcy before completing the vessel, enabling Disney Cruise Line to secure it at a favorable price and within the capital expenditure guidance The Walt Disney Company provided on its recent earnings call. The project also secures employment for hundreds of former MV Werften employees and will provide opportunities for numerous maritime industry suppliers in the region.

More details about the maiden voyage, itineraries and onboard experiences will be announced at a later date.

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jmeNov 13, 2023

ABD Tour guided excursions, and tour before or after the cruise I suppose... But mostly I was kidding since their names are so similar

cjkeatingOct 31, 2023

A package including what?

jmeOct 24, 2023

Do you think Adventures by Disney will offer a package that includes the Disney Adventure?

ToTBellHopSep 11, 2023

Why not Wish’s original name? The fireworks show they gave its name to is gone forever. So Enchantment is an option. Imagine has also been floated.

cjkeatingSep 11, 2023

Well that's unfortuante, it must have been on the shortlist if it was chosen for GD2. And Adventure works much better for what has been announced for the Treasure. Care to drop any hints for the final ship?

GimpYancIentSep 10, 2023

This is interesting, per Cruise Industry News: "Disney has announced the acquisition of a partially completed cruise ship as it has come to terms to acquire the unfinished 6,000-guest Global Dream that is sitting at MV Werften. Disney will now work with Meyer Werft to complete the cruise ship in Wismar, Germany. The ship will be renamed and is expected to set sail in 2025 and will be fueled by green methanol. Disney said it was able secure the ship at a favorable price and within the capital expenditure guidance."

peter11435Sep 10, 2023

No. The the treasure was the treasure before Disney even acquired the Global Dream.

cjkeatingSep 10, 2023

I honestly think the Treasure was meant to be called Adventure. But then the Global Dream 2 came along.

CastAStoneSep 09, 2023

Carnival Dream Carnival Fantasy Carnival Magic Wonder of the Seas Adventure of the Seas Fits the pattern better than the other new ships.

KeithVHSep 09, 2023

No, but it is "out there" . . .

Andrew CSep 09, 2023

Will the theme of this one be treasure? That would be hilarious.

DCBakerSep 09, 2023

Disney Adventure is the name of the new ship.

AbsimilliardMar 29, 2023

Interesting choice to base the ship in Singapore. You have enough people in a 4-5 hours flight range to keep the ship booked most of the time and they can afford to. The lack of a casino will appeal to the muslim guests from Malaysia, south Thailand, Indonesia and Brunei that can easily reach Singapore and that's a good selling point. Disney will have to provide halal meals for them in a large quantity though, so they can't just copy and paste what they do on the other ships.

SplashJacketMar 29, 2023

Honestly, Disney has been a great bargaining trip to get family to explore beyond their normal comfort zone. While I have no hesitancy to travel really anywhere, Shanghai Disneyland was really the only thing that got us to China. Once there, we explored China thoroughly, so it wasn’t a Disney trip, but a China trip with Disney, but it got us to actually go. Singapore has long been on my bucket list, so I easily see myself exploring South East asia (Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore) and capping it off with a cruise. Curious to see exactly where these itineraries go. Cruises, and Disney by extension, have really lowered the barrier of entry to exploring really amazing places (some of which we have independently returned to). In March 2022 we were booked on a Northern European cruise with 2 full days in Saint Petersburg. We weren’t comfortable visiting Russia independently but a cruise really lowers the barrier of entry by providing safe lodging and transportation. Ultimately that trip never happened, for obvious reasons, but I really think cruises are an under appreciated tool for exploration by many people.