Oriental Land Company, who owns and operates Tokyo Disney Resort, and two other Japanese companies announced a partnership to operate Disney cruises sailing from Japan.
An agreement was entered into between Oriental Land Company, LLC. and Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha and Yusen Cruises Co., Ltd. , who will jointly be referred to as “Nippon Yusen Group.”
The agreement is intended to establish how the Nippon Yusen Group will work with Oriental Land Company to operate their first ever cruise ship, which will be built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany. It will cover consulting, and the management and operation of cruise vessels. OLC’s goal is to create outstanding guest experiences as part of their vision for a “Family Entertainment Cruise.”
The current agreement is to build a Disney Wish-class cruise ship (i.e. Disney Wish, Disney Treasure, Disney Destiny). This newest ship to be announced will be the 4th in said class, with the Disney Adventure in a class all its own. The Adventure will operate out of Asia as well, but out of Singapore and will be Disney-owned-and-operated. This new ship will not be operated by Disney Cruise Line, thus the need for an experienced partner in the region.
Disney Cruises in Japan
The Oriental Land Company, as part of its 2030 objectives, sought to explore new business ventures beyond managing Disney-licensed theme parks and resort hotels in Japan. According to OLC, this decision was driven by the promising growth prospects of the cruise market in the country, the expertise the company has developed through its theme park and hotel operations, and its strong partnership with the Walt Disney Company—an asset they hope will provide a significant advantage in this new venture.
By merging the Oriental Land Group’s expertise in crafting extraordinary spaces and delivering exceptional hospitality through theme park and hotel operations with the Nippon Yusen Group’s extensive experience in maritime transport, Asuka Cruises, and advanced safety technology, the two companies aim to bring Oriental Land’s vision of a “Family Entertainment Cruise” to life.
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And while little is known about this future ship, if you’re thinking of booking a cruise on one of Disney Cruise Line’s new ships, why not contact our official travel agent, Be Our Guest Vacations, and let them handle the entire booking process for you!
