UPDATE 11/30/22: A German news site, Capital+, has revealed that Disney Cruise Line paid 40 million euros for the Global Dream, which, according to the site, was 75% completed when construction was abandoned.
According to the article, the intended price of the largest cruise ship in the world was set at 1.8 billion euros. Although Disney appears to have acquired the ship at a massively discounted rate, the article does state that they “offered the highest purchase price.”
Additionally, DCL is likely to spend around 1 billion euros to transform and complete the ship.
H/T: @ScottGustin
In early October, we shared reports out of Germany that mentioned that Disney Cruise Line might be considering purchasing an abandoned cruise ship.
Today, Disney announced the acquisition of that partially completed ship and it will bring the magic of a Disney Cruise Line vacation to new global destinations. Disney will work with the esteemed Meyer Werft shipbuilding company to complete the cruise ship previously known as the Global Dream in Wismar, Germany. The ship will be renamed with certain features reimagined under the world-renowned expertise of Walt Disney Imagineers and is expected to set sail in 2025.
Disney cruise ships provide the unique opportunity to bring Disney magic to fans no matter where they are, and the addition of this ship will make a Disney Cruise Line vacation accessible to more families than ever before.
Josh D’Amaro, chairman, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products
The new ship, to be based outside the United States, will feature innovative Disney experiences along with the dazzling entertainment, world-class dining, and legendary guest service that set Disney Cruise Line apart. The exterior will be adorned in the iconic, Mickey Mouse-inspired colors of the fleet, complete with signature red funnels.
The 208,000-gross-ton ship is expected to be among the first in the cruise industry to be fueled by green methanol, one of the lowest-emission fuels available. Disney Cruise Line expects the passenger capacity to be approximately 6,000 with around 2,300 crew members.
Construction will be completed at the former MV Werften shipyard in Wismar, Germany, under the management of Meyer Werft, the Papenburg-based company that built the Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, and Disney Wish. The ship’s previous owner filed for bankruptcy before completing the vessel, enabling Disney Cruise Line to secure it at a favorable price and within the capital expenditure guidance The Walt Disney Company provided on its recent earnings call. The project also secures employment for hundreds of former MV Werften employees and will provide opportunities for numerous maritime industry suppliers in the region.
More details about the maiden voyage, itineraries, and onboard experiences will be announced at a later date.
The Disney Cruise Line fleet sails to world-class destinations in the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Europe, Alaska, Mexico, Canada, Hawaii, and the South Pacific, and recently announced first-ever vacations for guests in Australia and New Zealand beginning in late 2023.
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