Construction of Disney Cruise Line's newest ship, Disney Believe, has hit a significant milestone: the first of three massive gigablocks has been completed and floated out at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. This central section forms the midship of the vessel and houses the Grand Hall — the dramatic atrium space that serves as the heart of every Wish-class ship.
Disney Cruise Line revealed in August 2026 that the Grand Hall's signature bronze statue will depict Moana, the adventurous princess from the beloved film, posed confidently alongside her animal companions Pua and Heihei. Renderings of the space also point to rich Polynesian influences throughout the architecture, carpeting, and wall details. Structurally, each gigablock can tip the scales at more than 31,000 tons and arrives fully equipped with walls, plumbing, and wiring — though finishing touches like paint, carpet, and artwork come later in the process.
Up next is the forward gigablock, which will house the ship's main show theater and a variety of lounges. The aft section — the last to be assembled — will include two of Disney Believe's rotational dining restaurants, though Disney Cruise Line has not yet announced which themed experiences will be offered. Her three sister ships each share Worlds of Marvel and 1923 as two of their three rotating venues, with a unique third restaurant tied to a specific Disney film on each vessel.
Once all three gigablocks are ready, they'll be precisely welded together to form the complete hull. Disney Cruise Line updated its fleet expansion timeline in August 2026 to reflect a "late calendar 2027" launch window for Disney Believe, though no homeport, itineraries, or official debut date have been confirmed. Steel cutting on the ship began back in August 2025.
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This story was first reported by Cruise Hive.
