by Beth Keating
News
DisneyBizJournal.com
July 9, 2024
Disney Cruise Line has been a very busy arm of the Disney company of late, between launching new ships and opening a new private island - Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point - for cruisers to the Bahamas. Today (July 9), Disney Cruise Line announced a partnership with Japan’s Oriental Land Co., Ltd. for a new Japan-based ship that will offer year-round service from Tokyo.
This ship will be in addition to the Disney Adventure, the Singapore-based ship which is expected to set sail in 2025.
Oriental Land Company (OLC) is also the owner/operator of Tokyo Disney Resort, so they, too, have had a busy run, with the new Fantasy Springs port opening at Tokyo DisneySea in the past few weeks, with new Frozen, Tangled and Peter Pan areas for guests. In Disney fan circles, Tokyo Disney is often considered the dream trip, because of the high quality and state-of-the-art inventiveness of the Tokyo rides and attractions. (Plus, we really are jealous of their much-coveted merchandise…)
The yet-to-be-named ship will be the ninth vessel in the Disney Cruise Line fleet, and is anticipating its maiden voyage in early 2029. OLC will be responsible for the construction of the ship, and will operate the vessel under a licensing agreement with Disney. (The Tokyo Disneyland park agreement works much the same way, with OLC maintaining ownership of the resort.) Tokyo Disneyland opened in 1983, and its sister park, Tokyo DisneySea, opened in 2001.
“I am sincerely proud that Disney and Oriental Land will be able to work together to create a world-class cruise business in Japan,” said Yumiko Takano, representative director, chairperson and CEO, Oriental Land, in a press release today. “Oriental Land will use their knowhow from the theme park business to continue pushing boundaries and provide family entertainment cruise experiences filled with inspiration and surprise.”
The new Japan-based ship will be the fourth DCL ship in the “Wish Class”, with about 1,250 staterooms; a 4,000-guest capacity; and 1,500 crew members. It will be constructed at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany (where other recent Disney ships have also been born). The 140,000 gross tons ship will be powered by liquified natural gas.
Disney Cruise Line is currently sailing the Disney Magic; the Disney Wonder; the Disney Dream; the Disney Fantasy; and the Disney Wish; with the Disney Treasure hitting the high seas in December 2024. The Disney Destiny is still to launch, with expected delivery in 2025.
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Beth Keating is a theme parks, restaurant and entertainment reporter for DisneyBizJournal.
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