We’re learning more about the team that will bring the Disney Believe to life when Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship sets sail in late 2027. Disney has announced that longtime Disney Cruise Line veteran Trent Hitchcock will serve as the opening Cruise Director of the Disney Believe, including its maiden voyage and inaugural season.
Hitchcock has been with Disney Cruise Line for nearly 20 years, spending 10 of those years as a cruise director. He’s also no stranger to launching a new Disney ship. Hitchcock was part of the opening team for the Disney Destiny and has worked aboard every ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet except the Disney Adventure.
“My ship bingo card is almost full!” Hitchcock joked.
As Cruise Director, Hitchcock will oversee an entertainment operation involving more than 200 crew members. That encompasses a huge part of what guests experience during a Disney cruise, including deck parties, fireworks at sea, onboard activities, recreation, Port Adventures, youth programming, and Disney Cruise Line’s Broadway-style stage productions.
“The pride I get every day waking up knowing that I get to lead an incredible entertainment operation aboard the ship, and the enjoyment I see in every guest that comes on board to experience our storytelling,” Hitchcock said of what he enjoys most about the job. “And when you get to see that through your own children’s eyes, that’s the best part.”
Preparing to Bring the Disney Believe to Life
Although the Disney Believe won’t welcome its first guests until late 2027, Hitchcock’s work is already beginning. He says initial conversations about a new ship’s entertainment operation begin roughly a year before it enters service.
Next year, Hitchcock will travel to Meyer Werft Shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, where the Disney Believe is currently under construction. He’ll remain with the ship through its maiden voyage and into the inaugural sailing season.
This will also give Hitchcock an opportunity he hasn’t had before: being closely involved with a Disney Cruise Line ship from so early in its development.
“Bringing a new ship to life is a special time and being the opening cruise director to close the Wish class is an honor and a privilege,” Hitchcock said. “I can’t wait to share the Disney Believe with all our guests.”
The announcement comes as Disney continues dropping new details about the Disney Believe. The ship recently reached its keel-laying milestone at Meyer Werft, complete with a special Tinker Bell coin, and even more news is coming Wednesday, October 7, at 4:30 p.m. ET, when Disney Cruise Line will reveal new details about the ship during a special presentation.
Members of our DCL Fan team are aboard the Disney Wish for the event, so we’ll be following along closely as we learn much more about the Disney Believe!
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