Disney Cruise Line has announced that the Disney Believe will set sail in late 2027, marking the completion of the Wish-class fleet. The ship is currently under construction at Meyer Werft Shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, and will feature entertainment and venues inspired by films like Moana, Encanto, Frozen, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, The Little Mermaid, and Toy Story.
Disney's been sharing behind-the-scenes updates on the construction process through their official Ship's Log, giving fans a chance to follow along as the ship comes to life. If you want to keep up with progress, you can follow @DisneyCruiseLine and @DisneyParks on social media.
Who's Leading the Charge
Trent Hitchock has been named the opening Cruise Director for the Disney Believe. He's been with Disney Cruise Line for nearly 20 years and served as cruise director for a decade, including on the opening team for the Disney Destiny. He's worked on every ship in the fleet except the Disney Adventure. Trent oversees all the entertainment, activities, youth programs, deck parties, Broadway-style shows, and Port Adventures that keep guests entertained throughout their voyage. He'll be heading to Germany next year to begin preparations for the ship's maiden voyage and first season.
Construction Milestones
The ship is being built in three large sections called gigablocks. Each gigablock can weigh more than 31,000 tons and comes complete with walls, plumbing, and wiring before being welded together like puzzle pieces.
September 2026: The first gigablock, containing the midship and Grand Hall, floated out of the shipyard.
October 2026: The keel laying ceremony took place, a maritime tradition dating back to ancient Greece and Rome. A specially minted coin featuring Tinker Bell was placed beneath the ship's keel for good fortune.
What You'll See Onboard
The Grand Hall, the ship's central gathering space, will be themed to Moana. A bronze statue of Moana with Pua and Heihei will serve as a focal point, surrounded by Polynesian-inspired finishes that honor the region's cultural traditions.
The ship's exterior will feature character artwork that continues Disney Cruise Line tradition. The stern will showcase Woody and Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story writing the ship's name in playful block letters with oversized yellow crayons. The bow will display hand-painted filigree artwork of Tinker Bell as she appeared in the 1953 Peter Pan, surrounded by silhouettes of Peter, Wendy, Captain Hook, and other characters from the film.
According to Claire Weiss, Portfolio Executive Creative Director at Disney, the ship's theme celebrates "belief in magic, family, the power of nature, and belief in yourself," with all onboard storytelling tied together by the core Disney concept of believing in something fantastical.
