Disney Cruise Line makes order for three more ships official

Disney already announced way back in 2017 that they were ordering not two, but three new ships and company officials have recently disclosed that they would be Liquefied Natural Gas powered. They had even mentioned that the ships would be built by Meyer Werft, the Papenburg Germany shipyard that built both the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy.

Yep all that was known. All that we were waiting for was the official news that Disney had placed its order with Meyer Werft. That arrived this week in a flurry of news stories.

At approximately 144,000 gross tons and 1,250 guest staterooms, each of the new ships will be slightly larger than the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy. We also know the name and a few fun details for the first ship of the three – the Disney Wish.

“There couldn’t be a better name for our incredible new ship because making wishes come true is part of the Disney DNA and is at the heart of so many of our cherished stories,” said Bob Chapek, Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.

The Disney Wish is scheduled for delivery in late 2021 with first guest sailings in January 2022. Ships two and three are expected to follow approximately one year later each.

“We pride ourselves on the unforgettable vacation experiences we deliver to our guests each and every day, and the expansion of our Disney fleet will allow us to create even more magical memories for families at sea and in incredible cruise destinations around the world,” said Robert A. Iger, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Walt Disney Company.

The last time the Disney Cruise Line released a new ship was in 2012 with the Disney Fantasy. Those ships included important innovations like the first water coaster at sea (Aquaduck) and virtual portholes in interior staterooms.

We expect to hear shortly when work will begin at Meyer Werft with the keel laying ceremony for the Disney Wish. This dedication lays a ceremonial gold coin for good luck in the first piece of the ship’s hull.

More ships means Disney will be able to service more ports of call around the world for more of the year. Although Disney hasn’t officially revealed the itineraries for the Disney Wish, the company has extended its deals in Port Canaveral and Miami, FL and Galveston, TX with a new terminal in Port Canaveral. So we would expect the new ship to sale out of Port Canaveral and one of the other big ships to move to Miami. Expect the Magic to sail out of Galveston and New Orleans more frequently. When ships 6 and 7 are added to the fleet, I would not be surprised to see a permanent ship in the European or Asia sailing routes.

What names are you hoping for ships six and seven for Disney Cruise Line?