Disney Believe confirmed: Disney Cruise Line names its ninth ship and outlines what comes next
disney believe is now the official name of Disney Cruise Line’s ninth ship, announced during an Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The announcement came as Disney Cruise Line framed the naming as part of a broader, fast-moving expansion that has already added new ships recently. The company also tied the moment to what it described as a growth path that will push the fleet to 13 ships by 2031.
Announcement details and timing
At 1: 40 PM ET on March 18, 2026, Disney Cruise Line publicly announced the name of its next cruise ship, identifying it as the company’s ninth. The naming was revealed during an Annual Meeting of Shareholders led by Disney’s new CEO Josh D’Amaro, marking his first time leading that annual forum in the role.
Disney Cruise Line positioned the news within a wider run of additions: the Disney Destiny debuted last year, and the Disney Adventure debuted this month. The Disney Adventure was described as the company’s first ship docked in Asia, underscoring that the fleet’s growth is also extending its operational footprint.
What Disney Believe is and what has been said about the onboard theme
disney believe was identified as the fourth ship in Disney’s Wish class, joining the Disney Wish, Disney Treasure, and Disney Destiny. Disney Cruise Line stated the ship will set sail late next year.
Disney Cruise Line also outlined an early creative direction: the motif for the new ship will be “promise and possibilities. ” The company presented that motif as a continuation of theme-based identities across the Wish class, with the Wish tied to “enchantment, ” the Treasure to “adventure, ” and the Destiny to “heroes and villains. ”
In describing what the creative direction could encompass, Disney Cruise Line highlighted a lineup of story worlds it said connect to “endless stories waiting to be discovered and new chapters ready to unfold onboard, ” referencing Encanto, Frozen, Snow White, Moana, and The Little Mermaid.
Immediate reactions from officials and institutions
Josh D’Amaro, CEO, Disney, introduced the ship name during the Annual Meeting of Shareholders, using the event to formally place the new vessel into the company’s growth narrative.
Disney Cruise Line, as an institution, emphasized that the fleet is in what it characterized as “massive growth, ” pointing to the recent additions of Disney Destiny and Disney Adventure as near-term proof points, and to the longer-term target of 13 ships by 2031 as the clearest benchmark for what it says is ahead.
Quick context: why the announcement matters now
The ship naming lands during an active expansion cycle that has already delivered one new ship last year and another this month. Disney Cruise Line has also pointed to future milestones that include new types of ships and a separate vessel to be operated by Oriental Land Co., the operator of Tokyo Disney Resort, in 2029.
What’s next to watch
Disney Cruise Line has said the fleet will grow to 13 ships by 2031, with 2029 highlighted as a year that will include a brand-new class of ships and a ship operated by Oriental Land Co. The next concrete update to watch will be the company’s subsequent disclosures about deployment, onboard offerings, and how the “promise and possibilities” motif is translated into experiences across dining and entertainment as disney believe moves toward its planned late-next-year sailing.
