Disney’s New Cruise Ships Will Be Smaller (100,000 GT): First Look Rendering Revealed

Disney Cruise Line recently revealed that three brand-new cruise ships will be coming in 2029 and 2030.  This will be a whole new class for the cruise line.  

Now, a rendering of the new ship has been dropped during a D23 event in Anaheim, California.

The new ships, slated to begin arrival in 2029, will be smaller than the recent Wish-class (144,00 GT) and slightly larger than the smallest class in the fleet, Magic-class (84,000 GT).

The ships, candidly recognized as ships 11, 12, and 13 for the cruise line, will be 100,000 gross ton vessels, capable of accommodating around 3,000 guests.

Finding the “Sweet Spot” in Size

It looks like Disney is looking for a middle ground in terms of size for this next batch of ships. Not only can smaller ships have access to more ports, but not every cruiser is a fan of the “bigger is better” concept.

• Capacity: Roughly 3,000 passengers. That places them right between the classic 2,713-passenger Disney Wonder and the 4,000-passenger Disney Wish.
• Tonnage: About 100,000 gross tons, which is about 20% larger than the Magic-class, but much smaller than the 208,000 GT Disney Adventure.

Why build smaller?

As Senior Creative Director Claire Weiss explained during the showcase, placing these ships “right in the middle of our classic ships and our newer ones” gives Disney “some amazing opportunities to visit new places and reach brand new audiences we haven’t before.”

This basically means ships of this size can access harbors which might be shallower and inaccessible with a 150,000 GT ship.

So, I would expect some unique itineraries with these new ships, which will even offer the ability to visit some historic European ports.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Design Features and a Few Hints

While Disney is keeping specific vessel names, themes, and itineraries locked away for now, the initial teaser trailer revealed a few architectural details:

• Ocean-Focused Views: The renderings feature a large midship wall of ocean-facing windows spanning what looks like three decks. It will be interesting to see how this space is used.
• Classic Silhouette: Expect the signature black-and-gold hull, twin red funnels, and streamlined styling that match the iconic Disney ocean liner aesthetic.
• Efficiency: From previous press releases from the cruise line and shipyard we also know a bit about the build itself. Built in partnership with Meyer Werft in Germany, the ships will feature hybrid battery systems, shore-power plug-in capabilities, and the flexibility to operate on green fuels like renewable methanol or hydrotreated vegetable oil.

Fan Reaction

The Disney post on Instagram seemed to really resonate with Disney Cruise Line fans, as commenters asked about itineraries and wondered where the ships would be homeported.

Many fans used the comment section to ask Disney to bring back popular structural features from the older Magic and Dream-class vessels rather than repeating the controversial flow of the Wish class.

• “Please let this new class of ships take their design and layout cues from the original 4 ships of the Magic and Dream Classes and not the Wish Class. Those original ships were just so much better laid out when it comes to adult areas and entertainment options.”
• “Please please PLEASE let this class have a proper full promenade that actually goes all the way around without needing stairs. And an actual adult district.”
• “Please tell us that was a nod to the walking track coming back!?!?”

Because the smaller footprint opens up new destination possabilities, fans wasted no time pitching their favorite departure cities and regions for the 2029-2030 rollout.

• “Love the combination of Magic and Wish, hope we see one in Alaska/west coast and New York for Canadian and Bermuda sailings.”
• “Still waiting for San Diego to get a new ship.”
• “If these are able to sail to Alaska, I will freak!”
• “PLEASE give us a ship in Galveston FULL TIME!”

While details on interior spaces remain under lock and key for now, the general consensus is clear that cruisers want the midsize fleet to blend modern tech with the ocean-liner charm of Disney’s earliest ships.

But Disney fans don’t have to wait too long for a new ship to arrive. Disney Believe is scheduled to debut in 2027. The 140,000-ton vessel is a Wish-class ship, and we’re still waiting to hear where the ship will homeport when it arrives.

With two of these midsize ships slated to be delivered in 2029 and a third following in 2030, Disney Cruise Line is going to have a fleet of 13 ships in total in just four more years.