Disney Unveils New Cruise Ship With Some Surprising Details

Disney has revealed new details about its upcoming cruise ship, Disney Imagination, which is scheduled to begin sailing in spring 2029. The vessel will carry around 4,000 passengers and feature dozens of dining venues, Disney character experiences, and live entertainment.

Artist's rendering of the new Disney Imagination cruise ship sailing at sea, featuring a dark blue hull, gold detailing, and red Disney funnels.

But unlike Disney’s other Wish-class ships, this one won’t be sailing from Florida or the Caribbean. Instead, it will be based in Japan and operated by the company behind Tokyo Disney Resort.

Announced on October 14, 2026, Disney Imagination will be the first ship in Disney Cruise Line Japan, marking a new chapter for Disney’s growing cruise business.

Disney Confirms New Ship for Japan

Disney Imagination will be operated by Oriental Land Group, the Japanese company that runs Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea under license from Disney. The two companies first announced their cruise partnership in July 2024, but the ship’s name and several of its onboard features weren’t revealed until October 2026.

Although the ship will carry Disney Cruise Line branding, the new Japanese cruise operation will be managed by Oriental Land rather than Disney’s existing cruise business. The vessel will be based on the design of Disney Wish, which entered service in 2022, with some modifications planned for the Japanese market.

Disney says the name Imagination reflects the creativity and storytelling associated with its movies, theme parks, and cruise experiences. The company hopes the new ship will introduce more Japanese families to vacations at sea, particularly those who haven’t previously considered cruising.

While the vessel will share its basic design with Disney’s other Wish-class ships, it’s not yet clear how many of their existing attractions and restaurants will appear onboard.

Short Cruises From Tokyo, With Prices Already Estimated

Disney Imagination will primarily offer cruises lasting between two and four nights, departing from and returning to Tokyo International Cruise Terminal. The shorter itineraries are intended to appeal to Japanese families looking for a vacation that doesn’t require taking an entire week off work or school.

Mickey and Minnie Mouse in captain uniforms pose alongside four executives at the Disney Imagination cruise ship unveiling ceremony in Japan.

The sailings could also appeal to international visitors who want to combine a Disney cruise with time at Tokyo Disney Resort. However, specific ports of call haven’t been announced, so it’s not yet clear where the ship will sail during its first season.

Oriental Land has already provided an indication of how much the cruises could cost. Based on its planning estimates, fares for the most common stateroom category are expected to fall between approximately ¥100,000 and ¥400,000 per person.

These aren’t confirmed ticket prices, and the final cost will depend on the itinerary, sailing date, and type of accommodation. Reservations are expected to open around six months before the ship begins sailing, meaning bookings could become available toward the end of 2028 if the current spring 2029 launch schedule holds.

What Disney Has Revealed About the Onboard Experience

Although Disney hasn’t released a complete list of attractions, the company has confirmed several features that passengers can expect aboard Disney Imagination. These include a large theater, themed restaurants, character experiences, and spaces designed for different age groups.

One of the main entertainment venues will be a theater seating more than 1,300 guests, where passengers can watch live stage shows. An outdoor deck stage will host additional performances featuring Disney characters, while meet-and-greets and other activities will take place throughout the ship.

Disney says its characters will also wear exclusive cruise outfits designed for the Japanese operation, giving passengers something different from the costumes they might recognize at the theme parks.

Dining will be a major part of the experience, with approximately 30 restaurants, cafés, and bars planned for the vessel. Three main dining restaurants will each have their own theme and menu, although Disney hasn’t yet revealed their names or the stories that will inspire their designs.

Guests will also find shops selling merchandise exclusive to Disney Imagination, along with dedicated children’s activity areas and spaces reserved for adults. The children’s areas will offer organized programs, while adults will have their own places to relax away from the family activities.

There are still some important details missing, particularly when it comes to the ship’s attractions. Disney hasn’t confirmed whether familiar Wish-class features, such as the AquaMouse water ride, will appear on the Japanese ship or whether new experiences will be introduced instead.

Ariel and Sebastian Will Feature on the Ship’s Stern

One feature Disney has already revealed is the artwork planned for the ship’s stern, and it involves a familiar character from The Little Mermaid. Ariel will appear alongside Sebastian and other characters from the movie, using a dinglehopper, the fork she famously mistakes for a hair-styling tool, to draw the ship’s name.

Artist's rendering of Disney Imagination cruise ship's stern featuring Ariel and Sebastian from The Little Mermaid, alongside the ship's name in gold lettering.

The artwork continues a tradition found across Disney Cruise Line’s fleet, with characters featured on the back of each vessel. For example, Disney Treasure features Peter Pan and Captain Hook, while Disney Believe will have Woody and Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story.

Disney says Ariel’s curiosity and creativity make her a suitable character for a ship named Imagination. The company has released concept artwork showing how the design will appear when the vessel enters service.

A Wish-Class Ship With Room for 4,000 Passengers

Disney Imagination will be a large ship, measuring approximately 1,115 feet (340 meters) long with a gross tonnage of around 140,000 GT. The vessel will accommodate approximately 4,000 passengers across 1,250 staterooms, with around 1,500 crew members working onboard.

Its design is based on Disney Wish, although Oriental Land has confirmed that some modifications will be made for the Japanese market. The company hasn’t yet explained exactly how the layout will differ from the other ships in the class.

The vessel is being built at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, which has also constructed several ships for Disney Cruise Line. Construction work on the lower hull sections began in October 2026, with delivery expected in autumn 2028, allowing time for preparations before the spring 2029 launch.

Oriental Land also plans to register Disney Imagination in Japan, making it different from Disney’s existing fleet, whose ships sail under the Bahamas flag. This is part of the company’s plan to establish a dedicated cruise operation in Japan rather than simply introducing another Disney ship to an existing itinerary.

Disney’s Expansion Into Japan Is a Major Investment

Oriental Land has allocated approximately ¥330 billion to establish its new cruise business, with around ¥290 billion budgeted for the ship itself and another ¥40 billion set aside as contingency funding.

The company has ambitious plans for the operation. Within several years of launching, it hopes to welcome approximately 400,000 passengers annually and generate around ¥100 billion in annual revenue. Those figures are financial targets rather than guaranteed results, but they show how important the cruise business could become for Oriental Land.

The company has also said it may consider introducing a second ship once the first vessel is operating successfully. For now, its attention is focused on bringing Disney Imagination into service and introducing Disney cruises to the Japanese market.

Natacha Rafalski, president of Disney Signature Experiences, described the announcement as an important step in Disney’s relationship with Oriental Land.

“Today’s announcement of the Disney Imagination marks a significant milestone in the continued expansion of Disney Cruise Line and in our long-standing relationship with Oriental Land Group,” she said.

She added, “We are honored to extend the magic of Disney cruising to fans in new markets and create opportunities for Japanese guests to experience a Disney vacation at sea.”

The Japanese venture comes as Disney Cruise Line continues expanding its wider fleet. Another Wish-class vessel, Disney Believe, is scheduled to begin sailing from Port Everglades in Florida in December 2027, offering Caribbean and Bahamian itineraries.

Disney recently revealed new details about Disney Believe, including an Encanto stage production, a Frozen-themed restaurant, and several other attractions.

Meanwhile, Disney is also developing three ships belonging to an entirely new class, which is separate from Disney Imagination. While the Japan-based vessel will share its basic design with the larger Disney Wish, the new class will feature smaller ships of approximately 105,000 gross tons, each accommodating around 3,000 passengers.

Two of these smaller ships are expected to enter service in 2029, followed by a third in 2030. They’re being designed to offer Disney more flexibility when choosing destinations, particularly ports that may not be suitable for its larger vessels.

For Disney Imagination, further announcements are expected to confirm its restaurants, entertainment, itineraries, and booking arrangements before it welcomes its first passengers in spring 2029.