Disney Cruise Line is constructing its new ship, Disney Believe, at the Meyer Werft Shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, with a scheduled maiden voyage on December 18, 2027. The vessel is the fourth in the Disney Wish class and recently marked a construction milestone with the floating out of its first of three gigablocks in mid-September 2026. The keel laying ceremony, a maritime tradition to bestow good fortune, included placing a custom coin bearing Tinker Bell’s portrait under the ship’s keel.
Disney Believe Introduces First Full-Stage Encanto Musical at Sea
The Disney Believe will feature the cruise line’s first-ever stage adaptation of the Encanto musical, incorporating songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda
such as “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” and “Surface Pressure.” Additional entertainment productions include a reimagined Tangled: The Musical, Disney Seas the Adventure, and an original Zootopia family show starring Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde. The ship’s shows are inspired by Disney Animation films including Frozen, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Moana, The Little Mermaid, Inside Out 2, and Big Hero 6.
New Themed Lounges and Dining Venues Inspired by Disney Films
Dining and lounge venues onboard will reflect Disney stories such as Wishing Well, themed after Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and Sea Notes, a piano bar honoring The Little Mermaid. Oaken’s Table offers a Frozen family
feast, while Café Kakamora reflects Moana’s themes. Big Hero 6 is represented in Big Hero Sips, a dedicated lounge, alongside a magical observatory pub called Skygazers. The ship will also feature the Haunted Mansion Parlor bar and Joyful Sweets, a sweet shop inspired by Inside Out 2.
Themed Staterooms and Exclusive Royal Suites
Staterooms on the Disney Believe will carry themes from Moana, Coco, and Inside Out, with concierge rooms paying tribute to Peter Pan and Toy Story-themed ocean view rooms situated above the bridge. The ship offers exclusive royal suites including The Royal Reef Suite inspired by The Little Mermaid, The Royal Rose Suite themed
after Beauty and the Beast, and the Believe Tower Suite which draws inspiration from Magic Kingdom Park.
Experienced Leadership and Artistic Exterior Design
Trent Hitchcock will serve as the opening Cruise Director for Disney Believe. Hitchcock has nearly 20 years with Disney Cruise Line and has been cruise director for 10 years, working on every ship except the Disney Adventure. He will oversee entertainment, youth activities, and recreation aboard the ship starting with its launch. Exterior hull artwork includes large sculptures of Woody and Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story on the stern, with the bow adorned by decorative filigree featuring Tinker Bell and characters from Peter
Pan.
Voyage Details and Guest Experiences
Homeported at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the Disney Believe will operate four- and five-night sailings to the Bahamas and Western Caribbean. It will call on Disney private islands Castaway Cay and the newly introduced Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. Guests will have access to unique Disney-themed entertainment shows, lounges, and immersive stateroom experiences not found on other ships in the fleet.
Official Statements on Disney Believe’s Vision
Trent Hitchcock commented, “Bringing a new ship to life is a special time and being the opening cruise director to close the Wish class is an honor and a privilege. I can’t wait to share
the Disney Believe with all our guests.” Claire Weiss, Portfolio Executive Creative Director, said the ship “celebrates belief in magic, family, the power of nature, and belief in yourself,” adding that “all the stories we tell onboard will be tied together by the core Disney notion of believing in something fantastical.”
