Disney Cruise Line is moving faster than originally planned on its next wave of ships. According to documents shared during The Walt Disney Company's recent earnings call, three newbuilds are now expected to enter service during calendar year 2029, with a fourth following in 2030 — a shift from the previously announced schedule.
The accelerated timeline centers on a new class of ships ordered from German shipyard Meyer Werft in mid-2024. The first two vessels in that class, each expected to come in at roughly 105,000 tons with capacity for around 3,000 guests, were originally slated to debut in 2029 and 2030 respectively. Both are now targeted for 2029, while the third sister ship in the series has been moved up to 2030 from a previously planned 2031 delivery.
Rounding out the 2029 debuts is the inaugural ship for Disney Cruise Line Japan, a Wish-class vessel also under construction at Meyer Werft. Ordered in 2024, that ship is scheduled for delivery in late 2028 and is expected to begin sailing from Japanese ports in early 2029. The Japan operation is being developed in partnership with Oriental Land Co., with NYK Group serving as ship manager and business consultant.
Before any of those arrive, Disney Cruise Line will welcome the Disney Believe — a fourth Wish-class ship measuring 140,000 tons — from Meyer Werft in late 2027. Deployment details and onboard features for that vessel are expected to be announced later this year.
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The fleet news came alongside strong financial results for The Walt Disney Company, which reported net income of $2.8 billion on revenues of $22.7 billion for its fiscal third quarter, with a ten percent increase in parks and cruising businesses cited as a key driver. This report is based on coverage from Cruise Industry News.
