Disney Cruise Line has used its latest D23 showcase to reveal new details about Disney Believe and offer the first glimpse of an entirely new class of ships that will begin joining the fleet in 2029.
The announcements provide a clearer picture of both the cruise line’s immediate expansion and what will follow once its current generation of Wish-class ships is complete.
Disney Believe, which is scheduled to debut in late 2027, will become the fourth vessel in the Wish class. Disney has now confirmed several of the characters and design elements that will feature prominently across the ship, including Tinker Bell, Moana and characters from Toy Story.
At the same time, Disney Cruise Line confirmed that the three ships due to arrive from 2029 will form an entirely new class rather than extending the existing Wish-class design.
The new generation of vessels will be positioned between Disney’s smaller classic ships and its newer, larger vessels, a move intended to give the cruise line greater flexibility when choosing destinations and developing future itineraries.
Disney Believe To Feature Tinker Bell, Moana And Toy Story
Disney Believe will carry a theme centred around “promise and possibilities”, with characters selected to reflect ideas of magic, adventure and believing in oneself.
Tinker Bell, from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ 1953 film Peter Pan, will feature in the ship’s bow artwork.
The hand-painted filigree design will place Tinker Bell at its centre while also incorporating silhouettes of Peter Pan, Wendy, John, Michael, Captain Hook and Smee.
Inside the ship, the Grand Hall will be themed around Moana.
A bronze cast statue of the character will serve as the centrepiece of the space, accompanied by Pua and Heihei. Concept artwork shows Moana looking towards the horizon in an adventurous pose.
The surrounding Grand Hall design will continue the theme with wave-inspired details on the walls, a subtle water pattern incorporated into the carpet and Polynesian influences elsewhere in the space.
Disney has also chosen Toy Story for Disney Believe’s stern sculpture.
Woody and Buzz Lightyear will appear to be completing the ship’s name using oversized yellow crayons, extending Disney Cruise Line’s tradition of placing character sculptures on the sterns of its vessels.
“This ship celebrates belief in magic, family, the power of nature, and belief in yourself,” said Claire Weiss, Portfolio Executive Creative Director of Walt Disney Imagineering. “And all the stories we tell onboard will be tied together by the core Disney notion of believing in something fantastical.”
One particularly noticeable change will be the lettering used for the ship’s name on the stern.
Rather than using the familiar script-style font seen across much of the Disney Cruise Line fleet, Disney Believe will carry its name in large, angled block lettering inspired by Toy Story.
The choice ties
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