Disney Cruise Line has pulled back the curtain on its next ship, the Believe, and it's stacking up to be a film-franchise fan's dream. The 2,500-passenger Wish-class vessel starts sailing four- and five-night Bahamas and Caribbean cruises from Fort Lauderdale in December 2027, with bookings opening later this month.
The centrepiece is a Moana-themed Grand Hall, the ship's main gathering space, complete with a bronze statue of Moana and design touches drawn from the Pacific Islands setting of the film. Entertainment is where the Believe really breaks new ground: it will host the world's first stage adaptation of Encanto, a reimagined version of Tangled: The Musical with effects exclusive to this ship, and Disney Seas the Adventure with Disney and Pixar characters. Zootopia fans get a double dose too — Gazelle, a family entertainment hub by day that flips into an adults-only venue with silent discos at night, plus a first-ever show starring Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde where guests help crack a case.
Dining follows the same playbook. Oaken's Table: A Frozen Family Feast brings Oaken, Anna and Kristoff to the table as part of the rotational dining lineup alongside returning favourites 1923 and Worlds of Marvel. New cafes Big Hero Sips and Café Kakamora cover the coffee run, while Inside Out: Joyful Sweets gets an Inside Out 2 refresh and Mickey and Friends Festival of Foods adds Pluto's Pita Platters for Mediterranean bites.
Adults aren't forgotten. New spaces include Sea Notes, a piano bar nodding to Ariel's Grotto; Wishing Well, inspired by the dwarfs' cottage from Snow White; and Skygazers, an observatory-themed pub with celestial maps, craft brews and live sports. Palo Steakhouse, Enchanté by Chef Arnaud Lallement and the Haunted Mansion Parlor all return, and Quiet Cove offers a kid-free retreat on the upper decks.
Cabins lean towards families: most have a split-bath layout, 70% come with a verandah, and there are over 450 connecting doors. At the top end, the Believe Tower Suite — nearly 2,000 square feet across two storeys in the forward funnel — sleeps eight, with rooms themed to Magic Kingdom lands and a Cinderella Castle art piece in the living room.
Itineraries include stops at Disney's private islands, Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, plus Nassau. If you've been waiting for a cruise that mixes short Caribbean hops with serious Disney IP, the Believe is designed exactly for you — families with kids of different ages will get the most out of it, though the adults-only deck means parents get a holiday too.
