Disney Cruise Line Takes Delivery of Its Newest (and Largest) Ship

Following a few delays earlier this year, Disney Cruise Line has officially taken delivery of its largest ship yet.  The cruise line now has eight ships in the fleet.

Disney Adventure, Disney’s eighth cruise ship, was handed over during a ceremony at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany.  The shipbuilder handed over the “keys” to Disney, moving the ship from “under construction” to being part of the cruise line’s fleet.

The Asia-bound vessel is unlike any other with the cruise line and will be starting its initial sailings in Singapore.

“Disney Adventure is now one step closer to calling Singapore home! The Maiden Voyage sets sail March 2026, welcoming guests on board for magical moments at sea,” the cruise line wrote on today’s Facebook post.

A Giant Joins the Fleet

Disney Adventure is by far the largest ship Disney has ever owned, and it’s not even close.

Disney’s Wish-class ships have a gross tonnage around 144,000 with a passenger capacity close to 4,000.  Disney Adventure’s gross tonnage (a measurement in size and internal volume) is closer to 208,000 with a passenger capacity expected to be around 6,000.

This means the new ship is roughly 45% larger than the next biggest ship in the Disney lineup.

From “Global Dream” to Disney Adventure

Unlike Disney Cruise Line’s other ships, which were designed from scratch by the company, Adventure was originally being built for a different cruise line that went out of business during the pandemic. At the time, the ship was about 75% finished and was known as the Global Dream.

Disney bought the unfinished vessel in 2022 for a fraction of its original building cost. They then brought in their “Imagineers” to completely redesign the interior to match the Disney brand. Instead of the traditional layout Disney fans might recognize, the ship is organized into seven huge themed zones, like Marvel Landing and San Fransokyo Street.

It even features the Ironcycle Test Run, which is the longest roller coaster at sea at over 820 feet long.

The Delivery and The Move to Singapore

The delivery ceremony in Germany was the final step before the ship begins its long journey to its new home. While most Disney ships sail in the Caribbean or Europe, Disney Adventure is scheduled to sail out of Singapore.

But it will still be a few months before Adventure is sailing cruisers around Asia.  The first cruises on the ship are set for March 2026.

Disney plans to keep the ship based there for at least five years, offering three- and four-night cruises. This is a first for the company, as they have never had a ship based year-round in Southeast Asia.

Now that Disney officially owns the ship, the next few months will be spent on “final outfitting.” This involves finishing the intricate Disney-themed decor, training the thousands of new crew members, and running final tests on everything make sure it’s perfect for the first guests.