Disney Cruise Line has floated out the first of three giga-blocks for the Disney Believe, the next ship in its fast-growing fleet. The milestone happened at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany, where the vessel is now visibly coming together ahead of a planned entry into service in late 2027.
The Believe will be the fourth Wish-class ship, following the Disney Wish, Treasure and Destiny. At roughly 144,000 tons, it carries about 2,500 guests at double occupancy — big-ship scale, but still smaller than the mega-resorts at sea sailing from Florida's biggest rivals. Each Wish-class ship gets its own themed Grand Hall, and the Believe goes all-in on Moana: a bronze statue of the wayfinder, flanked by her pig Pua and rooster Heihei, will anchor the atrium. Designers are drawing on the films' South Pacific setting, with Disney promising the decor will respect the cultural traditions of the region.
The stern, meanwhile, gets its own statement piece. Disney gives every ship a different character tableau at the back, and the Believe will feature larger-than-life sculptures of Woody and Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story — a fun calling card for anyone watching the ship sail in or out of port.
There's plenty more on Disney's build schedule beyond this one. A fifth Wish-class sister is being constructed for the Oriental Land Company in Japan, due in 2029. After that, Meyer Werft will deliver a new class of slightly smaller ships — around 105,000 tons each — with two launching in 2029 and another in 2030. In other words, anyone who likes the Disney approach to cruising will have a widening menu of ships and homeports to choose from over the next few years.
For travellers, the takeaway is timing. New Disney ships typically open for bookings well before launch, and the earliest sailings on a brand-new vessel are the ones that sell out fastest — especially around school holidays. If a Moana-themed Grand Hall sounds like your family's idea of a good time, it's worth watching for when Disney Believe itineraries and homeports are announced. Existing Wish-class fans can also use this as a guide: if you've sailed the Wish, Treasure or Destiny, the Believe will feel familiar in scale and layout, but with fresh theming throughout.
Details like dining, entertainment and itineraries for the Believe haven't been revealed yet — those usually trickle out in the year or so before launch — so there's still a lot to look forward to between now and late 2027.
