We already knew that the Disney Cruise ship fleet was expanding rapidly.
Now more details have been released about what we can expect from the new Disney cruise ships.
In what was rather surprising news at the time, DCL announced in August 2024 at D23 that the Disney fleet would be adding another 4 ships that will launch between 2027 and 2031.
This will take the total number of ships in the fleet to 13 in 2031.
It had already been announced that one of the new ships would be a Wish Class sister ship to Disney Wish, Disney Treasure and Disney Destiny.
This is set to be delivered in 2027.
Related: Disney Cruise Ships Compared
However, until now, Disney had been silent about what we could expect from the other three new ships.
Now we know that these ships, arriving between 2029 and 2031, will be smaller than the Wish Class and the Dream Class ships.
Each will be built at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, and designed by Walt Disney Imagineering.
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The new, as yet unnamed, class of Disney Ship will carry 3,000 passengers and be approximately 100,000 gross tons.
They will be 20 per cent larger than the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder.
This means that they will be somewhere in between the size of the Classic ships and the Dream Class ships.
This will be a welcome announcement for many, including me, that Disney is scaling back from the trend of larger and larger cruise ships.
It will also give the Disney fleet more flexibility of where they are able to sail and the itineraries that they can offer to guests.
I would expect that, unlike the Wish Class ships, the new design will be able to transit the Panama Canal. The size of the Wish Class ships means that they are not able to do this.
They can sail through the locks but this is irrelevant as they cannot fit under the Bridge of the Americas!
We will have to wait to hear more details about the names, experiences, themes and designs of the new ships.
Disney Cruise Line released this statement:
“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.”
The new ships, designed to be among the lightest in their class, will maximize fuel efficiency through a streamlined hull, advanced power and propulsion systems, and energy-optimized operations.
With an innovative design and efficient use of materials throughout, they will also feature energy-saving systems and a battery system to support and enhance the main engines.
“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.”
While in port, the new ships will utilize shore power technology, allowing them to “plug in” to the local energy grid and shut off their engines.
They will also be equipped to operate on various sustainable fuels, such as hydrotreated vegetable oil and renewable methanol, with flexibility to adapt to future fuel innovations.
Additionally, this new class will uphold Disney Cruise Line’s commitment to minimizing waste, conserving water, and supporting The Walt Disney Company’s 2030 environmental goals.
Will the DCL fleet really be that large by 2031?
By 2031 there will be 12 ships owned and operated by Disney Cruise Line.
There will also be a new Wish Class ship that sails from Tokyo and is expected to be delivered in 2028.. This ship is an extension of the relationship with the Oriental Land Company , which operates Tokyo Disney.
This takes the total of Disney Cruise ships to that lucky number 13, by 2031, although only 12 will be owned and operated by DCL.
But there is something else to consider.
Sadly we have to accept the reality that whilst Disney Magic and Disney Wonder are still fabulous, exceptionally maintained ships, they are getting on in years.
Launched in 1998 and 1999 they will both be over 30 years old when we reach the next decade – and there is much speculation that they will be retired early in the next decade.
What features would you like to see in the new ships?
Alison Meacham is the founder of EverythingMouse Disney Blog. For over 15 years she has shared her love of Disney Parks, Disney Cruises and Universal Orlando. In over 30 years of Disney Travel she has spent countless months in Disney Parks and has sailed on over 45 cruises. A British native and now a United States resident she splits her time between California, Florida and the UK. And spends a serious amount of time sailing the seven seas. She helps over 200,000 people per month follow their Disney travel dreams.