Last night was a BIG night for Disney news! We were at the Disney Experiences Showcase at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, and Disney dropped LOTS of news about what’s coming to the theme parks and beyond, including Disney Cruise Line!
©Disney
We got lots of updates on the Disney Believe cruise ship, an announcement that an entire new class of ships is on its way, and so much more. But wait, that’s a LOT going on. Don’t worry, we’re here to break it all down!
To start, we had a few announcements about the cruises from San Diego. Disney confirmed that they’ll be doubling the number of cruises sailing from Southern California from the Port of San Diego, but no timeline was given for when to expect these additional cruises. It was also announced that the Disney Wish is heading to Europe in Summer 2027, and the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder are also heading back to Alaska.
Disney Cruise Line
As for the Disney Believe cruise ship news, we got a look at the artwork that will be on both the hull and the bow, as well as who will be the star of the Grand Hall. The Disney Believe will begin sailing in late 2027 and will be inspired by some of Disney’s most popular stories, such as Encanto, Frozen, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Moana, and The Little Mermaid. On the Disney Believe, the Grand Hall will be infused with the optimistic spirit of exploration from Disney Animation’s Moana films, with a bronze cast statue of Moana, accompanied by her faithful companions Pua and Heihei.
©Disney
The cruise ship’s hull will feature Woody and Buzz creating the Disney Believe logo on the boat with large yellow crayons, in the style of the animated films, rather than the regular calligraphy we normally see for Disney Cruises.
©Disney
As for the ship’s bow, Tinker Bell is front and center, then is flanked by the silhouettes of Peter, Wendy, Captain Hook, and other characters from the film flying amid the swirling design. When speaking about the new ship, Claire Weiss, Portfolio Executive Creative Director, said, “This ship celebrates belief in magic, family, the power of nature, and belief in yourself, and all the stories we tell onboard will be tied together by the core Disney notion of believing in something fantastical.”
©Disney
Disney also revealed that a new class of ships is on its way! The new class of ships will debut in 2029, and they’re positioned in size between Disney’s classic ships and its newer vessels, allowing the opportunity to travel to new destinations. That’s about all we know about them for now, but we did get a teaser!
A sneak peek of the newest class of Disney Cruise Line ships sailing into your feed
#D23 pic.twitter.com/dS3FP7sPVD
— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) August 16, 2026
It certainly looks like Disney Cruises aren’t slowing down any time soon, and we’ll be keeping a close eye out for all the latest Disney news.
We’ll be sure to keep you updated on all the latest Disney news, both on land and at sea, so stay tuned to DFB!
6 Things Disney Cruise Experts Never Do on Their First Day
Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!
WE KNOW DISNEY.
YOU CAN, TOO.
Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.
Whether you’re a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!
How do you feel about these announcements? Tell us in the comments!