Disney Cruise Line isn’t finished growing…not even close!
Just when we thought we had Disney Cruise Line’s rapidly expanding fleet figured out, Disney dropped another pretty major update during Horizons: A Carousel of Progress at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event.
Disney gave fans their first-ever look at an entirely new class of Disney Cruise Line ships, with three vessels planned to begin joining the fleet starting in 2029.
And these aren’t going to be copies of the Disney Wish.
In fact, Disney revealed one particularly important detail about the new ships: they’ll be bigger than the Disney Wonder, but smaller than the Disney Wish.
That seemingly small detail could open up some BIG possibilities for where Disney Cruise Line sails next.
THREE New Disney Cruise Ships Are Coming
Disney originally announced back at D23 in 2024 that it planned to add four additional ships to the Disney Cruise Line fleet between 2027 and 2031.
We now know much more about what those plans actually look like. The first is the Disney Believe, which Disney recently confirmed will begin sailing in late 2027 as the fourth Wish-class ship.
After that? Disney is changing course.
The remaining three ships will introduce an entirely new class to the Disney Cruise Line fleet, beginning in 2029.
Disney hasn’t announced their names yet, but Horizons gave us our first preview of what this next generation of Disney ships will look like.
They’ll Be Smaller Than the Disney Wish
This is probably the most interesting detail Disney revealed. The three new ships are being designed to occupy a sweet spot between Disney Cruise Line’s older, more intimate vessels and its much larger modern ships.
Disney Cruise Line Portfolio Executive Creative Director Claire Weiss explained during Horizons that the ships will fall “right in the middle” of Disney’s classic and newer ships.
In practical terms: They’ll be larger than the Disney Wonder but smaller than the Disney Wish.
And there’s a strategic reason Disney isn’t simply building three more massive ships.
Disney Wants to Sail to NEW Places
The size of these new ships could give Disney Cruise Line considerably more flexibility when planning future itineraries.
Weiss explained that the new class creates opportunities for Disney to visit new destinations and reach audiences the cruise line hasn’t been able to reach before.
That’s significant.
Different ports around the world have different infrastructure, size, and operational limitations. Building ships that aren’t quite as large as the Wish-class vessels could potentially give Disney more flexibility as it continues expanding into new regions.
Disney hasn’t announced exactly where these ships will sail yet, so we’re not going to start throwing darts at a world map.
But Disney itself is connecting the new class’s size with its ability to visit new places and reach new audiences, which makes their eventual itinerary announcements particularly interesting to watch.
D23 Got the FIRST Look
Disney didn’t just talk about the ships during Horizons. Guests attending the presentation were shown the first-ever public preview of the new class.
Weiss confirmed that the teaser presented during Horizons had never previously been shown publicly, giving D23 attendees their first glimpse at Disney Cruise Line’s next generation of vessels.
Disney still isn’t revealing much about what’s actually inside them, though. We don’t have ship names. We don’t have homeports. We don’t have itineraries. And Disney hasn’t revealed the restaurants, entertainment, attractions, kids’ clubs, lounges, or Disney stories that could eventually inspire the new vessels.
Those details are still coming.
Disney Cruise Line Is Growing to 13 Ships
All of this is part of a MASSIVE expansion of Disney Cruise Line.
Disney currently operates eight ships around the world, and the company’s previously announced expansion plans will eventually bring the fleet to 13 ships.
The current and announced lineup includes the Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, Disney Wish, Disney Treasure, Disney Destiny, Disney Adventure, and upcoming Disney Believe.
Then, beginning in 2029, the three ships from this brand-new class will begin joining the fleet. That’s quite a change for a cruise line that spent its first decade operating just two ships.
What Comes After the Disney Believe?
This announcement also gives us a much clearer picture of Disney Cruise Line’s next era.
The Disney Believe sets sail in late 2027 and will be the fourth Wish-class ship, following the Disney Wish, Disney Treasure, and Disney Destiny.
Then Disney moves into something entirely new.
Beginning in 2029, the company will introduce this yet-to-be-named ship class — one designed to fall between the classic and Wish-class vessels in size while giving Disney additional opportunities to expand its reach around the world.
And honestly, the potential destinations might be the most interesting part of this announcement. Disney isn’t building three smaller ships simply for the sake of having smaller ships. It’s specifically talking about where those ships could allow Disney Cruise Line to go next.
For now, though, we’ll have to wait to find out exactly where that is. Disney Cruise Line’s next chapter officially begins in 2029.
Keep checking back with Theme Park Scope for the latest Disney Cruise Line news, new ship announcements, Disney Believe updates, itineraries, homeports, D23 reveals, and everything coming next to the rapidly expanding Disney Cruise Line fleet.
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