First Look: Disney Cruise Line Reveals Disney Believe Details and Brand-New Ship Class
The horizon is expanding rapidly for Disney Cruise Line. During the highly anticipated Horizons: D23 Disney Experiences Showcase, Portfolio Executive Creative Director Claire Weiss took the stage to share major milestones for the fleet, offering a gorgeous first look at the upcoming Disney Believe cruise ship and teasing a completely unannounced class of ships.
Setting sail in late 2027, the Disney Believe cruise ship will be the fourth ship to join the popular Wish class, joining the Disney Wish, Disney Treasure, and Disney Destiny.
The core philosophy of the ship revolves around a simple, powerful notion: believing in family, nature, and the fantastical.
To bring this theme to life, Disney unveiled the breathtaking design planned for the ship’s bow.
The bow filigree honors the 1953 animated classic Peter Pan, featuring a delicate, golden design of Tinker Bell casting her magic alongside silhouettes of Peter, Wendy, and Captain Hook.
Moving from the front of the ship to the back, the exterior artwork shifts from classic Disney animation to beloved Pixar storytelling.
Following the long-standing tradition of placing iconic characters on the stern, the Disney Believe will feature larger-than-life sculptures of Woody and Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story.
In a playful twist, the duo will appear to be actively etching the ship’s name using giant yellow crayons, trading the traditional elegant script font for the franchise's signature block-style lettering.
Beyond the outer hull, the heart of the ship’s interior space was also revealed. Like its sister ships, the Disney Believe will feature a central gathering space known as the Grand Hall.
For this vessel, the Grand Hall draws its creative energy from the optimistic spirit of exploration found in Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Moana.
The stunning space will be anchored by a central bronze statue of Moana alongside her companions, Pua and Heihei.
The surrounding architecture will be heavily layered with artisanal Polynesian finishes that deeply honor the cultural traditions of the South Pacific.
The Grand Hall will serve as the gateway to a variety of immersive venues onboard influenced by other iconic films, including Encanto, Frozen, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and The Little Mermaid.
A Surprise Peak at the 2029 New Class of Ships
While the Disney Believe represents the immediate future of the fleet, Disney also provided a thrilling glimpse further down the timeline.
In 2024, Disney announced plans to expand its fleet to 13 ships. At this year's showcase, we finally learned how the final three ships will fit into the lineup.
Debuting in 2029, these three highly anticipated vessels will introduce a completely new class to the Disney Cruise Line fleet.
Though specific names and themes remain safely under wraps, Disney confirmed that this new class occupies a strategic "sweet spot" in terms of scale.
They are designed to be larger than classic ships like the Disney Wonder, but noticeably smaller than the massive Wish-class vessels.
This mid-sized framework gives Disney Cruise Line incredible operational flexibility.
The new dimensions will allow the ships to navigate into tighter ports, visit brand-new global destinations, and introduce signature Disney vacation experiences to entirely new audiences around the world.
Ready to chart your course toward new magical horizons and secure your family's spot on these upcoming voyages? Let’s turn these beautiful artist renderings into your next real-world adventure.
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