- Disney Cruise Line has put in an order to construct four new ships, to be built in 2027, 2029, 2030 and 2031.
- Disney will move to make slightly smaller ships, with a capacity of 3000 guests.
- Key to this decision is sustainability and environmental impact.
After the construction of Disney Cruise Line’s fourth Wish-class ship, the cruise line will pivot to building smaller vessels. This decision comes with goal of having access to a wider range of destinations, as well as reducing environmental impact.
This comes at an interesting time as cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean and Princess appear to be trending in the opposite directions, making ships larger and larger with each iteration. It might have appeared that Disney was heading in that route as well, with the upcoming Disney Adventure set to be by far the largest ship in the fleet.
However, this move reveals that Disney is thinking smarter, not bigger, for the future of its cruise ship fleet. By 2031, the cruise line will have 13 different vessels operating across the world.
Disney’s final Wish–class ship will have the capacity for 4000 passengers, but then the cruise line will build another three ships, each with a reduced capacity of 3000 passengers.
Thomas Mazloum, president, New Experiences Portfolio & Disney Signature Experiences said: “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.
“‘At the same time, we are focused on implementing new technology and designs that align with our longstanding commitment to the environment.”
The environmental features of the new ships centre around the use of not only Liquefied Natural Gas as an available fuel, but also with compatability for other fuels, such as hydro-treated vegetable oil and renewable methanol. However, most important the ships will be designed with adaptability in mind, meaning they’ll be able to shift towards any newer and more sustainable fuels that become available in the future.
The ships will also take on a lighter design, aimed at saving fuel. Other noteworthy features include efficiency promoting power generation and propulsion systems, and shore power capabilities.
Philip Gennotte, portfolio project management executive, Walt Disney Imagineering, says that Disney wants the new ships to be “as fuel and energy efficient as possible”, noting that “our guests will see the difference — from a more hydrodynamic design to lighter materials and energy-efficient technology throughout … We’re very proud to continue to support Disney’s broader environmental goals, now and into the future.”