Disney Cruise Line's Fifth Ship to Be Called Disney Wish
by Jessica Montevago /
Disney Cruise Lines revealed the name of its fifth ship, Disney Wish, along with renderings of its stern, design and atrium at the D23 Expo 2019 on Sunday.
As part of the cruise line’s tradition to adorn the back of ships with an iconic character that reflects the theme of each vessel, the ship’s stern will feature Rapunzel with a paintbrush in hand suspended by her enchanted hair along with her sidekick Pascal.
"There couldn’t 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," Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Bob Chapek said.
The three-story atrium of the Disney Wish will be a bright, airy and elegant space.
Each Disney Cruise Line ship is unique, with a name that embodies the excitement of sailing with Disney and the power of our stories. The new ships will have the experiences our guests love, as well as all-new magic."
The ship’s atrium will be “a bright, airy and elegant space inspired by the beauty of an enchanted fairytale,” Disney said. At approximately 144,000 gross tons and 1,250 guest staterooms, it will be slightly larger than the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy.
The Disney Wish is scheduled for delivery in late 2021 and will set sail in January 2022. Two more Disney ships also are scheduled for delivery in 2022 and 2023.
In addition, Imagineer Joe Rohde joined Disney Parks’ Experiences and Products Chairman Bob Chapek to share plans for a second island destination for Disney Cruise Line in the Bahamas, joining Castaway Cay. Located on the island of Eleuthera at a place called Lighthouse Point, the new destination will celebrate both the stories of the Bahamas and the natural environment of Lighthouse Point.
The new Disney Cruise Line port of call will be located on the island of Eleuthera.
"With three new ships joining our fleet, we thought this would be an incredible opportunity to add another unique destination to our ports of call," Chapek said. "We looked all over the Bahamas and Caribbean for an ideal location that would enable us to create new experiences, while celebrating the culture of this amazing region."
Rhode – whose work includes the design of Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park near Orlando and Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa in Hawaii – has started an in-depth cultural tour of the Bahamas to meet with local artists and cultural experts.
Disney Cruise Line completed its purchase of privately owned Lighthouse Point earlier this year and signed an agreement with the Government of The Bahamas that guides the responsible and sustainable way the site will be developed.
Guests can look forward to a signature island experience that celebrates nature and the spirit and culture of The Bahamas.
Construction at Lighthouse Point will begin after an Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan are reviewed and accepted by the Government of The Bahamas and public consultation has occurred. Construction could begin in 2020 with completion in late 2022 or 2023.
Disney has committed to develop less than 20% of the property; employ sustainable building practices, including an open-trestle pier that eliminates the need to dredge a ship channel; establish environmental monitoring programs during construction and operation; and donate more than 190 acres of privately-owned land to the government, among other commitments.