Disney Cruise Line’s Next Ship Class What We Know About the New Ships Coming in 2029
Disney Cruise Line is about to enter an entirely new chapter.
The fleet has already grown dramatically from the four ships that launched the cruise line’s first era. With the arrival of the Disney Wish, Disney Treasure, Disney Destiny and Disney Adventure, Disney Cruise Line has introduced new ship designs, immersive lands, innovative entertainment and experiences unlike anything seen on its earlier vessels.
And now, Disney is looking even further ahead.
During the Disney Experiences Showcase: Horizons – A Carousel of Progress presentation, Disney Cruise Line gave fans an early glimpse at something it has never done before: an entirely new class of Disney Cruise Line ships.
The first three ships in this new class are scheduled to begin joining the fleet in 2029, marking the beginning of another major phase of Disney Cruise Line expansion.
While Disney is keeping most of the details under wraps for now, the company did reveal one particularly interesting detail about these ships: they will fall between Disney Cruise Line’s classic ships and its newer, larger vessels in size.
That could make this new class one of the most versatile additions to the fleet yet.
A Brand-New Class of Disney Cruise Ships
Disney Cruise Line currently has several distinct ship classes, each with its own design and personality.
The Disney Magic and Disney Wonder established the original Disney Cruise Line concept, combining the elegance of traditional ocean liners with Disney entertainment and storytelling.
The Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy followed with larger ships and new attractions, including the AquaDuck water coaster.
Then came the Wish class, beginning with the Disney Wish and continuing with the Disney Treasure and Disney Destiny. The Disney Believe is also planned to join the class.
Now Disney is preparing to move in a completely different direction.
The new ships arriving beginning in 2029 will form a brand-new class, separate from the Magic, Dream and Wish families.
Disney has not yet revealed the official class name or the names of all three ships, but the early announcement gives us an important clue about what makes them different.
The New Ships Will Be Between the Classic and Newer Ships in Size
One of the biggest pieces of information revealed during the presentation was the approximate size positioning of the new class.
Disney described the ships as being larger than the Disney Wonder but smaller than the Disney Wish.
That puts them in an intriguing middle ground.
The Disney Wonder has a gross tonnage of approximately 84,000, while the Disney Wish is approximately 144,000 gross tons.
That means Disney's new ships could potentially offer more space and capacity than the original ships without reaching the scale of the Wish class.
For Disney Cruise Line, that difference could be extremely important.
Why Ship Size Matters for Disney Cruise Line
A ship's size can have a major impact on where it can sail.
Larger ships require ports capable of handling their physical dimensions and passenger capacity. Smaller ships, meanwhile, can often access destinations that may not be practical for the largest vessels.
By creating ships that sit between its classic and newer vessels, Disney Cruise Line could have considerably more flexibility when planning future itineraries.
That could mean opportunities for:
New ports of call
More regional itineraries
Longer stays in certain destinations
Additional international cruises
Ports that cannot accommodate the largest Disney ships
New homeports around the world
Disney specifically highlighted the opportunity to reach new places and new audiences with this class.
That may ultimately prove to be one of the most important characteristics of the new ships.
Three New Ships Are Planned
Disney Cruise Line has announced plans for three ships in this new class.
The first ships are expected to begin arriving in 2029, following the introduction of the Disney Believe.
That means Disney's fleet expansion isn't simply about adding more ships that look like the ones already sailing.
Instead, Disney is developing an entirely new platform that could serve a different purpose within the fleet.
And with three ships planned, this won't be a one-off experiment.
Disney appears to be establishing another major ship family that could remain part of its fleet strategy for years to come.
Disney Cruise Line's Growing Fleet
The new class is part of one of the most ambitious periods of expansion in Disney Cruise Line history.
Here's how the fleet is shaping up:
Disney Magic and Disney Wonder
The Disney Magic and Disney Wonder are the ships that launched Disney Cruise Line's original vision.
Their smaller size gives them a more intimate atmosphere compared with the newer ships, while their classic design remains a favorite among longtime Disney cruisers.
Both ships continue to offer a combination of Disney entertainment, Broadway-style productions, themed dining, character experiences and family activities.
Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy
The Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy represented the next major evolution of the fleet.
These ships introduced larger public spaces, additional dining options and attractions such as the AquaDuck.
They remain an important middle generation within the Disney Cruise Line fleet and continue to sail a variety of itineraries.
Disney Wish, Disney Treasure and Disney Destiny
The arrival of the Disney Wish introduced an entirely new design philosophy for Disney Cruise Line.
The Disney Treasure and Disney Destiny followed, each bringing its own storytelling themes and experiences to the Wish class.
The Disney Wish focuses heavily on the power of wishes, while the Disney Treasure draws inspiration from adventure and exploration. The Disney Destiny brings themes of heroes and villains into its design.
Disney Believe
The Disney Believe will become the fourth ship in the Wish class.
Its arrival will further expand the newest generation of Disney Cruise Line ships before the company transitions to the completely new class scheduled to begin arriving in 2029.
Disney Adventure
The Disney Adventure represents another important milestone for Disney Cruise Line.
Based in Singapore, the ship expands Disney Cruise Line's presence in Southeast Asia and introduces a new lineup of Disney, Pixar and Marvel-inspired experiences.
Its arrival also demonstrates Disney's increasing focus on international markets.
What Could the New Ship Class Mean for Future Itineraries?
This may be the most exciting question for Disney Cruise Line fans.
Disney isn't simply adding ships to increase capacity.
The company has specifically positioned these ships to visit new places and reach new audiences.
Because the ships will be smaller than the Wish class, Disney may be able to consider ports that aren't practical for its largest ships.
That could potentially open the door to new combinations of destinations and itineraries.
Of course, Disney has not announced the specific ports or homeports for these ships yet, so any predictions about where they will sail should be considered speculation.
But the possibilities are certainly interesting.
Could we see more regional cruising?
Could additional international markets become part of Disney Cruise Line's regular schedule?
Could smaller ships spend more time exploring destinations that the largest ships cannot easily visit?
Those are questions we'll be watching closely as Disney releases more information.
Disney Has Only Shown Us the Beginning
Perhaps the most exciting part of the announcement is how little we actually know.
Disney has revealed that the ships will form a completely new class.
We know there will be three ships.
We know they are expected to begin arriving in 2029.
And we know their size will fall between Disney's classic ships and the larger newer vessels.
Beyond that, there are still plenty of unanswered questions.
We don't yet know the final ship names, detailed deck plans, restaurants, attractions, entertainment lineup, stateroom designs or itineraries.
But Disney did give fans something special during the presentation: an early visual preview of the new class that had not previously been shown to the public.
For Disney Cruise Line fans, this is just the beginning.
The Future of Disney Cruise Line Is Getting Bigger — and More Diverse
Disney Cruise Line has gone from four ships to a rapidly expanding global fleet.
The next phase isn't simply about building bigger ships.
Instead, Disney is adding different sizes, different experiences and new opportunities to reach destinations around the world.
The three ships coming in 2029 could become an important piece of that strategy.
Their middle-ground size may give Disney Cruise Line something it hasn't had in quite this way before: a ship designed to combine many of the advantages of its classic vessels with the expanded experiences of its newer fleet.
For now, we'll have to wait for Disney to open the treasure chest and reveal the details.
But one thing is already clear:
The next era of Disney Cruise Line won't look exactly like the one we know today.
And that's something worth watching.
Disney Cruise Line Fleet at a Glance
Ship: Class: Approximate Era
Disney Magic Magic class Original fleet
Disney Wonder Magic class Original fleet
Disney Dream Dream class Second generation
Disney Fantasy Dream class Second generation
Disney Wish Wish class Newest generation
Disney Treasure Wish class Newest generation
Disney Destiny Wish class Newest generation
Disney Adventure Adventure New international-focused ship
Disney Believe Wish class Coming soon
New Ship 11s.731 New class 2029+
New Ship 12 s.732 New class 2029+
New Ship 13 s.733 New class 2029+
