VESSEL REVIEW | Disney Wish – Disney Cruise Line adds fifth newbuild to fleet

US cruise company Disney Cruise Line (DCL) recently took delivery of a new cruise ship built by German shipyard Meyer Werft.

The Lloyd’s Register-classed Disney Wish is the fifth ship in Disney’s current fleet as well as the third DCL ship to be built by the same yard. It has a length of 1,119 feet (341 metres), a beam of 129 feet (39 metres), a draught of 27.2 feet (8.3 metres), a gross tonnage of 144,000, and accommodations for 5,500 guests and 1,555 crewmembers. These attributes also make it the largest ship in the current DCL fleet.

Disney Wish is the first of Meyer Werft’s Triton-class, a new series of three ships to be equipped with an LNG propulsion system to ensure significant reductions in emissions of CO2, NOx, and particulate matter. The hybrid LNG-electric propulsion arrangement includes five MAN 12V 51/60 engines, two ABB 26,100hp (19.5MW) azimuthing pod thrusters, and four bow thrusters. The ship is capable of sailing at a service speed of 22 knots and a maximum speed of 24 knots.

The facilities include Disney-themed restaurants, both family and adults-only lounges, 10 pools, a waterpark, children’s play areas, and a theatre. Among the other onboard amenities are spas, fitness centres, saunas, and outdoor recreational areas.

Around 90 per cent of the ship’s 1,254 staterooms are outside cabins, which also include balcony staterooms and premium single cabins and suites with concierge services. Each stateroom is also adorned with framed custom-made artwork on the walls. Many of the outside cabins each have split bathrooms with one room having a sink and shower and a separate room fitted with a sink and toilet.

Disney Wish sails under the flag of the Bahamas and is homeported in Port Canaveral, Florida, from where it has already begun serving itineraries that include Nassau and Disney’s private island resort destination of Castaway Cay. Sister ship Disney Treasure and a yet unnamed Triton-class ship are under construction at Meyer Werft and are scheduled to enter service between 2024 and 2025.

Click here to read other news stories, features, opinion articles, and vessel reviews as part of this month’s Passenger Vessel Week.