Disney will continue its expansion into Asia with year-round cruise vacations in the Land of the Rising Sun, under a new agreement with the owner of Tokyo Disney Resort, Oriental Land Co., Ltd. (OLC).
“Disney Cruise Line has ambitious plans to bring family vacations and Disney storytelling to more guests around the world than ever before,” Disney Experiences chairman Josh D’Amaro said.
Under the terms of the agreement, OLC will operate a new ship that will be registered and based in Japan year-round. With about 1,250 staterooms, the ship will be a sister to Disney Wish, but also feature “imaginative designs created by Walt Disney Imagineering,” including “select modifications specially designed with Japanese guests in mind.”
More details about the maiden voyage, itineraries and onboard experiences will be announced at a later date, Disney said.
The ship will be the ninth in the Disney fleet, which will almost double in size from the current five ships — Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy and Disney Wish by 2029, with three more ships expected by the end of 2025. It will be owned by OLC, however, and leased to Disney.
It also will be the fourth in the Wish class, which will add two more ships by next year, Disney Treasure later this year and Disney Destiny in 2025. These ships are slightly larger than Disney Dream and Fantasy, holding about 4,000 guests in 1,250 staterooms. Disney Wish features the AquaMouse water coaster, a Marvel-themed restaurant and a Frozen-themed dinner theater.
Disney Cruise Line also plans to begin year-round cruises from Singapore in 2025 and this summer debuted a private island, Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, in The Bahamas. Its fleet sails the Caribbean, Europe, Alaska, Mexico, Canada, Hawaii, the South Pacific, and Australia and New Zealand.
