by Sarah Kuta
Last updated: 11:00 AM ET, Tue August 18, 2026
Disney Cruise Line is offering a first look at its next generation of ships.
Fans attending the D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event in Anaheim, California, over the weekend got a sneak peak at the new class, which will be larger than the 2,713-passenger Disney Wonder but smaller than the 4,000-passenger Disney Wish.
The cruise line also shared a video on social media teasing the forthcoming vessels.
Three new ships are planned, part of Disney Cruise Line’s previously announced expansion to 13 vessels, with the first expected to begin sailing in 2029.
Claire Weiss, portfolio executive creative director for the cruise line, said the new mid-size ships will create “some amazing opportunities to visit new places and reach brand new audiences we haven’t before,” potentially opening up destinations and itineraries.
The cruise line’s leaders have been intentional about making the new class smaller “because not every ship is suitable for every destination in the world,” Thomas Mazloum, chairman of Disney Experiences, told USA Today. “And as we expand, it’s extremely important for us to ensure we have enough flexibility so we can access new destinations around the globe, wherever our fans are.”
Natacha Rafalski, president of Disney Signature Experiences, echoed that sentiment, saying during a media panel that the brand is “growing the fleet, we're becoming more global.”
“And by late calendar 2030, our fiscal '31, our fleet is going to include 13 ships,” she added. “And those are all going to be new entry points for a lot of guests across the world.”
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