Sarah Bretz, ContributorDisney Cruise Line has announced that not only will it be building a fourth Wish-class ship, but it will also be introducing a new ship class in the near future.
New Ship Class
Disney has ordered three vessels in a new not-yet-named ship class, which will feature industry-leading technology and support its environmental goals.
Each vessel will come in at around 100,000 gross tons, putting this class of ships right in between Disney Magic/Disney Wonder and Disney Dream/Disney Fantasy in terms of size. For reference, Disney Magic and Wonder are just under 84,000 gross tons each, while Disney Dream and Fantasy are just under 130,000 gross tons each. This makes the new upcoming class the second smallest class in the Disney Cruise Line fleet — they’ll be just 20 percent larger than Disney Magic and Disney Wonder.
For further reference, the newest class, the Wish class, features Disney’s largest ships that are currently sailing — Disney Wish and Treasure are 144,000 gross tons each.
The three new ships, which will hold 3,000 guests each, are planned for delivery in 2029, 2030, and 2031. Among the lightest cruise ships of their size in the industry, the new vessels will save fuel with a streamlined hull, next-generation power and propulsion systems, and numerous other operations optimized for energy efficiency. The ship will also be outfitted with a battery system to support and supplement the main engines.
When in port, the new ships will be able to rely on shore power technology to turn off their engines and “plug in” to a port’s energy grid to run onboard systems. They’ll also have the capability to operate on a variety of fuels, including hydrotreated vegetable oil and renewable methanol fuels, which remaining adaptable to additional fuel options that become available to the cruise industry.
The new class will also feature initiatives to minimize waste, conserve water, and align with The Walt Disney Company’s 2030 environmental goals.
Fourth Wish Class Ship
In addition to the new ship class, Disney Cruise Line will introduce an additional sister ship to Disney Wish (which debuted in 2022), Disney Treasure (2024), and Disney Destiny (set to debut this November). The fourth Wish class ship is set for a 2027 delivery and will be around 144,000 gross tons like her sisters, and able to accommodate 4,000 guests. She will be powered by liquefied natural gas.
“As we expand our fleet, it is important that we continue to provide a variety of experiences for our guests,” said Thomas Mazloum, president of New Experiences Portfolio & Disney Signature Experiences. “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. At the same time, we are focused on implementing new technology and designs that align with our longstanding commitment to the environment.”
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