Disney Cruise Line will soon own one of the world’s largest cruise ships after a surprise purchase

Disney Cruise Line will soon own one of the largest cruise lines in the world — this could be a breakthrough in the rapidly growing Asian cruise market.

Florida-based cruise giant Disney announced late Wednesday that it is purchasing a massive, half-finished ship that until recently was still under construction for Dream Cruises-based based in Asia.

Construction of the ship, called the Global Dream, was halted earlier this year after Dream Cruise collapsed along with sister brands Star Cruises and Crystal Cruises.

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Three cruise lines, owned by Asia-based Genting Hong Kong, have ceased operations.

Disney said it will work with German shipyard Meyer Werft to complete the ship under construction with specific locations designed to appeal to Asian families.

The airline did not say where it will deploy the ship, but in a press release it said the ship will bring Disney resort style to “new global destinations”.

It also said the ship, which will be renamed, will be based outside the United States.

“Our cruise ships provide us with a unique opportunity to bring the magic of Disney to fans no matter where they are, and the addition of the ship,” said Josh D’Amaro, president. This will make Disney Cruise Line vacation accessible to more families than ever before.” of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, in a statement accompanying the announcement.

Designed with a displacement of 208,000 tons, the Global Dream would be the world’s seventh largest cruise ship if it launched today. But it was built to hold a record 9,000 passengers.

Related: 5 Best Destinations You Can Visit on a Disney Cruise

The large number of passengers was made possible by packing in the numerous cabins on the ship that could accommodate families of four.

In its announcement, Disney said the ship will only hold 6,000 passengers, implying that the ship’s cabin configuration will be redesigned.

Both the size of the ship and its expected number of passengers are much larger than what is typical for a Disney ship. The service’s five ships range in tonnage from 83,969 tons to 144,000 tons. They hold about 4,000 passengers at most.

Related: Disney Cruise Line Ultimate Guide

Among the features of the Global Dream train specially designed for the Asian market is a huge one and a half deck casino. So far, Disney has yet to have a casino on board any of its five ships.

In its announcement, Disney said its designers, called Imagineers, will be working with Meyer Werft to add Disney-themed features to the ship. Once completed, the ship will feature “the innovative Disney experiences coupled with the dazzling entertainment, world-class cuisine and legendary customer service that have made Disney Cruise Line different”. said the company.

Disney also says the ship’s exterior will be embellished with the fleet’s iconic Mickey Mouse-inspired colors, complete with its signature red chimneys.

The purchase of a ship under construction that was originally slated for another yacht brand was a notable unusual move by Disney. The company wanted to control the design and construction of its resorts both on land and at sea right from the get-go.

That said, Disney Cruise Line is in expansion mode. The brand has two new ships on order for delivery in 2024 and 2025. These vessels will be sisters to the recently revealed line of vessels. Disney’s Wish.

Disney notes that the refurbished Global Dream won’t be ready to set sail until 2025.

The ship will be completed at the former MV Werften shipyard in Wismar, Germany, where it was originally built, under the management of Meyer Werft. Meyer Werft has built three of Disney’s five existing ships.

The line gives more details about the ship’s journey and experience on board to be announced at a later date.

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