Natacha Rafalski, President of Disney Signature Experiences, shared new photos of the Disney Believe under construction at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany.
Next Disney Cruise Line Ship Under Construction
New photos direct from the top of Disney Experiences offer a closer look at the massive funnel taking shape aboard the Disney Believe. Rafalski visited the shipyard with members of the Disney Cruise Line and Walt Disney Imagineering. In a post on LinkedIn, Rafalski shared her excitement:
The Disney Believe is taking shape! 🚢
I recently had the opportunity to visit Papenburg, Germany with our Disney Cruise Line and Walt Disney Imagineering teams to see the progress being made on our next ship.
It’s incredible to see the ship at this stage in the building process. From holding a piece of steel to standing in front of the iconic funnel, the day was filled with excitement for the future. I truly cannot wait to see the Disney Believe come to life with every visit.
One photo shows the group gathered beneath the ship’s enormous unfinished funnel. Its steel exterior is currently covered in reddish-brown primer, while the large raised Disney Cruise Line emblem has already been formed on its side. Construction equipment, scaffolding, and unfinished sections of the ship surround the group inside Meyer Werft’s enclosed building hall.
The second photo shows Rafalski and other project leaders handling several small, freshly cut steel components. Each piece bears a kind of serial number that starts with the Disney Believe’s Meyer Werft hull number: 723.
Disney Believe
Disney announced the Disney Believe during its 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders in March. It will be Disney Cruise Line’s ninth ship and the fourth vessel in the Wish class.
The ship joins the enchantment-themed Disney Wish, adventure-themed Disney Treasure, and heroes-and-villains-themed Disney Destiny. Disney has described the Disney Believe’s individual motif as one of “promise and possibilities.”
According to the Disney Parks Blog, its onboard experiences will draw from stories featuring characters who believe in themselves and their dreams. Disney has specifically referenced Encanto, Frozen, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Moana, and The Little Mermaid, though individual attractions, restaurants, and entertainment offerings have not yet been announced.
The Disney Believe is scheduled to debut in late 2027. Disney Cruise Line plans to expand its fleet to 13 ships by 2031, including a Disney vessel operated in partnership with Oriental Land Company in Japan.
What do you hope to see aboard the Disney Believe? Share your thoughts with us on social media.
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