Disney Wish: Everything we know about Disney's newest cruise ship, set to sail in 2022

Disney soon will be unveiling more information about its newest cruise ship, the Disney Wish. The Wish will be the fifth ship in Disney’s fleet.

"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," then-Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Bob Chapek said when he unveiled the ship’s name at the August 2019 D23 Expo. Chapek now is the chief executive officer of The Walt Disney Co.

The Wish’s itinerary is still unknown, but all four ships previously began their departures from Port Canaveral, Florida, with a destination in the Bahamas, including Disney’s privately owned island, Castaway Cay.

Those ships include: Disney Magic, which first sailed in July 1998; Disney Wonder (August 1999); Disney Dream (January 2011); and Disney Fantasy (March 2012).

While we await more information, which Disney will release on April 29, here’s what we know so far about the newest ship, the Wish:

►In Florida:Port commissioners award cruise terminal contracts for Disney expansion project

Question: When will it sail?

Answer: According to the website, it will begin sailing in summer 2022.

Q: Will there be a theme?

A: Yes. It has a Cinderella theme, including a statue of the Disney princess in the main entry area. According to Disney’s website, the Wish is “inspired by the beauty of a fairytale castle, the Grand Hall makes a bold welcoming statement, setting the tone for an enchanted family vacation from the moment guests step on board the Disney Wish. It is an idyllic setting for Cinderella, whose timeless story is the perfect example of magic transforming wishes into dreams and dreams into reality – very fitting for a vessel named the Disney Wish, don’t you think?”

At the stern, in keeping with Disney tradition, a character is seen painting on the name of the ship. Aboard Disney Wish, it will be Rapunzel from Disney’s “Tangled.”

And just recently Disney announced the magic of Captain Minnie Mouse will come to life for the first time through whimsical artwork on the bow of the Disney Wish, a hallmark of Disney Cruise Line vessels.

Q: How many passengers does it carry?

A: The original ships, the Magic and Wonder, are considered “Magic Class,” featuring 2,700 passengers and 875 staterooms.

The Dream and Fantasy are considered “Dream Class,” featuring 4,000 passengers and 1,250 staterooms.

The Wish will be in the “Triton Class.” It will also include 1,250 staterooms and 4,000 guests, but at 144,000 gross tons, it will be about 15,000 gross tons more than the Dream and Fantasy.

Q: Since it hosts the same number of guests and staterooms, what makes this ship different from the “Dream Class” ships?

A: One of the most important improvements is the Wish will be the first Disney vessel powered by liquefied natural gas. This clean-burning fuel significantly reduces emissions over more traditional marine bunker oil, thereby lessening the ship's environmental footprint.

Q: Will there be more ships?

A: Yes, the Wish is the first of three new ships that will join Disney’s fleet by 2025.

Q: Where is it being built?

A: Disney has a deal to have its next three ships built by Meyer Werft GmbH & Co., located in Papenburg, Germany. According to its website, "Meyer Werft is one of the largest and most modern shipyards in the world. The company’s roots can be traced back to the year 1795, when Willm Rolf Meyer founded the shipyard in Papenburg. Our family business is now in its seventh generation."

Q: Did the COVID-19 pandemic affect the Disney Wish?

A: Yes. The Wish was slated to begin sailing in 2021, but the pandemic pushed that back. Construction of the ship was delayed because the shipyard in Germany where it is being built was affected by COVID-19, not only from shutdowns but from delays in their supply chain. On top of that, cruises are still not sailing from U.S. ports.

But when can you cruise? CEO says Disney cruises not likely to return until 'maybe' this fall

Q: When will we know more?

A: On April 29 Disney will host "Once Upon a Disney Wish," which it describes as "a first-of-its-kind virtual media event revealing our newest Disney Cruise Line ship setting sail summer 2022."

During the event, Disney will discuss the ship's unique spaces, family entertainment and new character encounters. It will include an exclusive interview panel with the Disney Imagineers and Disney Cruise Line team behind the Disney Wish, world premiere sneak peeks and more.

Point of interest.

One possible future destination for the Wish or one of the upcoming new ships is a second privately owned island.

Disney purchased Lighthouse Point early in 2019 and signed an agreement with the Bahamian government that “guides the responsible and sustainable way the site will be developed.” Disney says it plans to develop less than 20% of the property and, through the Disney Conservation Fund, donated $13 million to marine conservation programs around the world – including some in the Bahamas.

Lighthouse Point on the island of Eleuthera will be a sister private island to Castaway Cay.

According to thepointsguy.com, Disney Imagineer Joe Rohde, who designed much of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa in Hawaii, toured the Bahamas in summer 2019 to meet with local artists to learn about the culture.

The result of his research trips will inform his design aesthetic for the new Disney port of call. And, his time in the Bahamas led him to Kevin Cooper, an artist from Eleuthera, and Antonius Roberts, an artist from Nassau. Both will play a major role in the artistic evolution of Lighthouse Point.