Disneys New Private Island
One of the great features of a Disney cruise is a visit to their private island Castaway Cay. A port stop in Castaway Cay is often the highlight of a Disney cruise.
It is well known that Disney cruise lines have been looking for a new private island for some time. Finally, in October 2018 it was confirmed that a new Disney private island location had been found.
Disney now has the go-ahead to develop the 700-acre privately owned Lighthouse Point Development on the south end of the island of Eleuthera. This is a 700-acre property in The Bahamas.
We are excited to reach this important milestone and look forward to working with the government and the people of the Bahamas to create new economic opportunities while preserving the natural beauty of Lighthouse Point, said Disney Cruise Line President Jeff Vahle. We are grateful for the warm welcome and support we have received from so many in Eleuthera and look forward to further developing relationships that will endure for many years to come.
Now it remains to be seen what the details of the development will be. All we know at the moment is that Disney plans to give 190 acres to the Bahamian government for use in conservation and a national park.
What do you think that the new Disney cruise ship will feature? Leave me a comment below.
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The Leader In Family Cruising Will Grow Its Award
CELEBRATION, Fla. As previously announced in 2016 and 2017, Disney Cruise Line is building three additional cruise ships, each of them showcasing the immersive family entertainment, enchanting storytelling and unparalleled service that only Disney can deliver.
The ships will be built at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany.
We pride ourselves on the unforgettable vacation experiences we deliver to our guests each and every day, and the expansion of our Disney fleet will allow us to create even more magical memories for families at sea and in incredible cruise destinations around the world, said Robert A. Iger, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Walt Disney Company.
The three new ships will be powered by liquefied natural gas and, at approximately 144,000 gross tons and 1,250 guest staterooms, will be slightly larger than the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy.
First Details on Newest Ship
Disney Cruise Line revealed the highly anticipated name of the fifth Disney Cruise Line ship, the Disney Wish, as well as a first look at the ships elegant, three-story atrium and the iconic Disney character that will adorn the ships stern.
The Disney Wish is expected to set sail beginning in summer 2022.
There couldnt be a better name for our incredible new ship because making wishes come true is part of the Disney DNA and is at the heart of so many of our cherished stories, said Bob Chapek, Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.
Disney Cruise Line
Get A First Look At The Next Disney Cruise Line Ship And New Disney Island Destination
by Jonathan Frontado, Public Relations Director, Disney Cruise Line, Adventures by Disney and Disney Vacation Club
At the D23 Expo 2019 today, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Bob Chapek announced the highly anticipated name of the fifth Disney Cruise Line ship, gave us a first glance of the ships elegant atrium and revealed the iconic Disney character that will adorn the ships stern. Bob was joined by Imagineer Joe Rohde to share a first look at the plans for our second island destination in The Bahamas. Im thrilled to share all these details with you!
Disney Wish was revealed as the name of our fifth ship. Its veryfitting because making wishes come true is at the heart of so many Disneystories.
The ships atrium will be a bright, airy andelegant space inspired by the beauty of an enchanted fairytale. A belovedhallmark of Disney Cruise Line, it has been a tradition to adorn the back ofour ships with an iconic character that reflects the theme of each vessel. Forthe Disney Wish, the ships stern will feature Rapunzel. Our favorite artsyprincess, paintbrush in hand, uses her enchanted hair to suspend herself asshe decorates the stern of the ship with the help of her feisty sidekick, Pascal. Spirited, smart,curious and above all, adventurous, Rapunzel embodies the wish and desire tosee and experience the world.
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New Cruise Ships On Order
Editor’s note: — The coronavirus pandemic led to the closure and significant scaling back of work at all the major European shipyards, with knock-on delays to refurbishments and new-builds. We have noted the new launch dates for the new-builds , and have moved vessels around on this list accordingly, but all dates are subject to change. For more information about COVID-19, read our regularly updated article: Coronavirus: What Cruisers Need to Know.
There’s nothing we love more than learning about new cruise ships. The process, from design to keel laying to launch, generally takes two to three years. It gets us excited to see what’s coming and who’s innovating. We keep track of the larger cruise ships under construction in our story below. If you are interested in expedition ships under construction, check out our New Expedition and Adventure Cruise Ships on Order, and if the luxury market piques your interest, you can see all of those under construction in our New Luxury Cruise Ships on Order article.
Want to learn more about what it takes to make an older ship feel like new? Peruse our comprehensive list of cruise ship refurbishments for information about upcoming overhauls.
What Will The New Disney Wish Ship Feature
Disneys newest ship to join the Disney Cruise Line fleet is the Disney Wish. The Wish is the first of a brand-new class of ships for the Disney Cruise Line called the Triton Class and will be bigger than the other existing ships in the fleet. In essence, the Disney Wish will feature a lot of space and new experiences for Disney Cruise Line fans.
Disney is referring to the Disney Wish as a castle on the sea, which reflects the castle icons found in each Magic Kingdom style Disney Park around the world.
The Disney Wish will feature new restaurants, the first-ever attraction at sea, and much much more!
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It Continues Disney’s Unique Ocean Liner Style
It should perhaps come as no surprise that Disney chose to keep the classic ocean liner styling that first appeared aboard Disney Magic back in 1998. Disney had always intended their ships to embody the elegance and grandeur of the bygone era of transatlantic ocean liners, and to that end, each Disney vessel has been graced with a black hull and white superstructure, separated by a gold “cheat line” that extends around the vessel’s name at the bow and stern, and offers attractive flourishes that are a throwback to the days of sail, when ships had elaborately-carved bows.
It Will Be Disney’s First Lng Ship
Disney Wish will be the first Disney vessel to be powered by Liquefied Natural Gas, or LNG. This clean-burning fuel significantly reduces emissions over more traditional marine bunker oil, thereby lessening the ship’s environmental footprint.
It’s a behind-the-scenes tweak that brings Disney’s newest ship into the next generation of shipbuilding technology.
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New Disney Cruise Ship Rumors
New Disney Private Island?
With the announcement of three new ships, DCL will be increasing its fleet from four to seven total ships on the seas.
This will put extra stress and demand on the crowning experience of Disney’s Caribbean itineraries: Castaway Cay.
As such, Disney has been rumored to be scouring the Bahamas in search of “new Castaway Cay” to purchase. This would add a new Disney private island as a destination where its expanded fleet can take its passengers for a magical beach diversion.
Disney Cruise Line has officially put forth a proposal to develop the area of Lighthouse Point, Eleuthera in the Bahamas Initially, there was a group that actively campaigned against the development of Lighthouse Point.
DCL’s proposal to develop 746-acres to build a cruise port was tentatively approved in October 2018.
Jeff Vahle, president of Disney Cruise Line, said Disney looks “forward to working with government and the people of the Bahamas to create new economic opportunities while preserving the natural beauty of Lighthouse Point.”
New Disney Port in Bahamas?
Instead of constructing a new private island, Disney Cruise Line appears to have decided to purchase expansive property on an existing Bahamian island, Lighthouse Point on Eleuthera, to build a new “escape experience” similar to Castaway Cay.
Advantages to building directly on a populated Bahamas island over a private island include:
Let’s Eat: Disney Wish Dining Options
Now, whats a Disney ship without food and interactive experiences while you eat?
The Disney Wish will have three new restaurants:
Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Experience will feature live shows with Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and, of course, Olaf. It has food inspired by Nordic influences.
1923 is named after the year Walt Disney Studios opened. It has food inspired by Hollywood and California flavors.
1923 is a celebration of Walts legacy, said Claire Weiss, Creative Director at Walt Disney Imagineering Germany.
The third was initially mentioned as being top secret, but was revealed as The World of Marvel. Passengers will play a role in a mission that unfolds while they dine.
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Star Wars: Hyperspace Lounge
The next new lounge on the Disney Wish is the Star Wars Hyperspace Lounge this will transport Guests from the middle of the ocean to the far reaches of space! This is the first of its kind for any Disney Cruise Line ship and will be sure to impress any Star Wars fan!
Hyperspace Lounge is described as:
The venueâs sleek interior design and metallic detailing is inspired by lavish star cruisers similar to Dryden Vosâ ship in âSolo: A Star Wars Story.â While you sip your galactic concoctions, this space-faring voyage will transport you to iconic locations from the eras of the Republic, Empire and First Order, employing hyperspace jumps to travel from planet to planet while sensational scenes unfold just beyond the shipâs panoramic viewport at each stop.
We also know that Hyperspace Lounge will feature over 40 ships from across the Star Wars universe including the films, animated series, and The Mandalorian. These ships will appear on the panoramic viewport and be a part of a larger storyline that is currently unknown! It is exciting to hear about the depth of storytelling that will be found inside the Star Wars: Hyperspace Lounge.
For The Adults: ‘star Wars’ Superheroes And More
A new “Star Wars”-themed lounge called the Hyperspace Lounge will make passengers feel like they’re having a beverage on a luxury spaceship. The window behind the bar shows scenes of outer space with planets and spaceships flying by in the background. They’ll visit Batuu, Tatooine and more. Truly a Galaxy far, far away.
Theres a “Beauty and the Beast”-themed lounge called “The Rose” and Palo Steakhouse, with decor inspired by Cogsworth, the lovable clock from the film. Its described as steakhouse fare meeting authentic Italian cuisine.
And there’s the highest-end restaurant, Enchante, inspired by Lumiere, the candlestick from “Beauty and the Beast.” It’s a romantic and intimate venue with food created by Michelin three-star chef Arnaud Lallement.
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What Changes Could Be Made
Even though the pandemic will hopefully be a thing of the past by the time the the Disney Wish sets sail in 2022 and certainly by her sister ships sailing dates of 2024 and 2025 it is possible that Disney could make permanent changes to the layout and onboard experience offerings as a direct result of COVID-19.
The CDC recently lifted its No-Sail Order, giving cruise operators a path back to sailing. However, there are a number of steps Disney and other cruise lines have to take before they can receive their conditional sailing certificates for each of their ships.
It is not yet known how long the conditional sailing program will be in place it is currently slated to run through at least November 2021 so the Wish may or may not be required to prove that its health and safety protocols are effective at mitigating the spread of the coronavirus.
Nonetheless, the pandemic has made people significantly more germ-conscious in general, so it could be years before many passengers feel comfortable engaging in certain onboard activities, or before Disney feels comfortable offering them.
Pools And Splash Pads
While Disney will undoubtedly still offer pools and splash pads as part of the Disney Cruise Line experience, new safety measures may have to be implemented in order to help families maintain physical distancing. Currently, Guest can enter at will and there are no Disney Cruise Line crew members specifically stationed in the splash pad area.
Those staffing the pools largely oversee towel distribution and food and beverage stations to date, they have not, of course, enforced social distancing/deck chair distancing. This is a change that may be coming sooner rather than later.
It is possible that splash pads may not even be available when cruise ships initially start sailing, given the high-touch nature of childrens play areas and that the Triton Class ships could have reimagined splash pad sections that allow for additional health and safety measures to be taken.
What are you looking forward to when cruising resumes? Do you want to be on a Disney Cruise Line maiden voyage in the next few years?
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Mickey And Friends Festival Of Foods
Upper decks
Themed around Disneys Fab Five characters, this series of eateries will be themed as a oceanside boardwalk, providing quick bite options for those spending time on Disney Wish upper decks.
Image: Disney Cruise Line
Open for lunch, snacks, and dinner, here are the five food stalls:
- Daisys Pizza Pies
- Sweet Minnies Ice Cream
Menus will feature soft-serve ice cream, American classics, BBQ, and Mexican options.
Hosted under a shaded seating area, there should be plenty of space to find a place to step away from the pool and sun for a treat.
New Vacation Operation Unit
In February 2009, Tom McAlpin left the Disney Cruise Line presidency and was replaced by Karl Holz as president of Disney Cruise Line and New Vacation Operations. In early 2009, Disney and Canaveral Port Authority extended their agreement to 2022 with expansion to the terminal to handle the new class of ships. A re-posting of the Disney Magic to Europe in 2010 adding DCL’s first North European cruises with Mediterranean cruises.
With the arrival of Disney Dream in 2011, Disney Wonder was relocated to Los Angeles. With the arrival of Disney Fantasy in 2012, Disney Magic was relocated to New York City in May 2012 for only the Summer season, before relocating to Galveston, Texas.
In late 2012, Disney Wonder began sailing cruises out of Miami, Florida, respectively. In 2013, the Disney Magic relocated to Barcelona, Spain and the Disney Wonder relocated to Vancouver, British Columbia. for the summer season. In Autumn 2013, the Magic and the Wonder returned to the United States but switched home ports, with the Magic leaving out of Miami and the Wonder leaving out of Galveston. In January 2014, the Wonder took over for the Magic in Miami and the Magic joined the Dream and Fantasy in Port Canaveral, placing all four ships in the state of Florida for the first time. Since then, the Magic and the Wonder have once again switched places.
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The Ship Will Have A Frozen
The ship’s dining experience, Arendelle: A “Frozen” Dining Adventure, is set to give a whole new meaning to “dinner and a show.”
Rather than watching a stage show while eating dinner, guests get to be part of the fun.
Jimmy Lynett, a Disney Cruise Line cruise director, said during a media panel about the Wish ship that the attraction is Disney’s first “Frozen” dining experience.
“We’re going to be bringing to life the engagement celebration that our guests are invited to between Anna and Kristoff,” Lynett said.
Guests can expect sing-alongs, table-side activities, and light effects that are designed to mimic the aurora borealis.
Designing The Disney Wish: New Experiences For Kids
Disney Cruise Line fans know how thoroughly the Disney experience caters to cruisers of all ages. The Disney Wish will feature a totally reimagined Disneys Oceaneer Club, There, kids ages 3 to 12 will experience the worlds of Marvel Super Heroes, Disney Princesses, Frozen friends and Disney Imagineers in brand-new ways.
And I have exciting news for you! Two brand new, magical experiences will debut on the Disney Wish next summer: Star Wars: Cargo Bay and Mickey and Minnie Captains Deck!
New Adventures at Star Wars: Cargo Bay will feature exciting, immersive, interactive experiences. In Cargo Bay, kids are plaved in the important role of creature handlers throughout the cruise. According to Disney Destinations, kids will use augmented reality-enabled datapads to track and study the creatures on a series of special assignments. The handlers will join an important mission to deliver a pair of secret stowaways, Rey and Chewbacca, back to the Resistance.
A Celebration of Exploration at Mickey and Minnie Captains Deck is uniquely designed for the youngest sailors at Disneys Oceaneer Club. Captains Deck features sensory-style activities as games like pipe slides and crawl-throughs, ships wheels, busy boxes fashioned as ship controls, and cushy life preserver seating areas. Theres even an additional signature experience available!
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Disney Wish Cruise Ship
Now we know! It was announced at D23 that the new Disney cruise ship will be named Disney Wish!
I decided to leave the thoughts above. Not only to show I did actually predict the name Disney Wish, but we have another two ships to go, so the guessing game is still on!
Personally, I love the name Disney Wish. It just seems like the right decision. I would guess that to fit in with Disney Wish the next two ships are likely to be called Imagine and Enchant. Or perhaps Believe.
Anyway, for now, its great to know that the next ship is Disney Wish and that the first sailing will be 2022. Now we just have to wish we will sail on it soon!
Disney cruise lines have released this statement about the Disney Wish. It gives us some hints of what may be onboard the Disney Wish.
The ships atrium will be a bright, airy, and elegant space inspired by the beauty of an enchanted fairytale. A beloved hallmark of Disney Cruise Line, it has been a tradition to adorn the back of our ships with an iconic character that reflects the theme of each vessel. For the Disney Wish, the ships stern will feature Rapunzel. Our favorite artsy princess, paintbrush in hand, uses her enchanted hair to suspend herself as she decorates the stern of the ship with the help of her feisty sidekick, Pascal. Spirited, smart, curious, and above all, adventurous, Rapunzel embodies the wish and desire to see and experience the world.