History
In March 2016, Disney Cruise Line announced that it had commissioned two new ships, described as larger than Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy but with an equivalent number of staterooms.[9][10] A third ship of the class was announced on July 15, 2017, at the D23 Expo.[11] In March 2018, Disney Cruise Line released the first rendering of its new generation of cruise ships.[12][13] The 140,000-ton cruise liners would be LNG-powered and would accommodate at least 2,500 guests.[14] In January 2019, the codename for the class of ship was confirmed as Triton in public documents published by Port Canaveral.[15][16][17] However it is now following the standard naming of class after the first ship.[18]
On August 25, 2019, the fifth ship was officially announced as the Disney Wish at the D23 Expo.[19] Construction began in March 2020 at Meyer Werft, Germany,[20] with the delivery date later changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[21][22] Also announced at the D23 Expo was that Rapunzel would feature as the stern character on Disney Wish, with The Walt Disney Company releasing the design mock-ups for the ship, including a render of Cinderella as the ship's atrium character.[19]
On April 8, 2021, during the keel laying ceremony,[23] it was announced that Captain Minnie would be the centerpiece of the Disney Wish.[24] On April 29, 2021, Disney Cruise Line shared a first look at their newest ship, Disney Wish, set to embark in mid-2022.[25] Disney Wish has 1,250 staterooms, along with several restaurants, immersive spaces and experiences themed to Walt Disney Pictures, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Wars, and Pixar characters, plus the AquaMouse, the world's first Disney attraction at sea.[1]
On February 3, 2022, it was announced that Disney Wish inaugural sailings were pushed back from June 9 to July 14, 2022, due to shipyard delays.[6] On February 11, 2022, Disney Wish completed her float out in Papenburg, Germany, where the stern figure Rapunzel was revealed for the first time.[26][27] The ship left Papenburg in March 2022.[28][29][30] In May 2022, it was announced that the ship would dock at Port Canaveral on June 20, followed by a livestreamed christening ceremony and a cruise for news media and travel experts on June 29.[31][32]
On July 14, 2022, Disney Wish officially entered service and embarked on her maiden voyage, a five-night Bahamian cruise stopping at Nassau and Castaway Cay.[40]
On December 24, 2022, National Geographic released a documentary Making the Disney Wish: Disney's Newest Cruise Ship showing the making of the Disney Wish and her design process. It was directed, written, and produced by Chad Cohen, with Bethany Jones also writing and producing, alongside Disney Yellow Shoes. Filming occurred from June 2021 shortly after construction began until its maiden voyage in July 2022. The film debuted on Disney+ on February 17, 2023.[41]
