Disney Cruise Line will homeport a cruise ship in Southeast Asia for the first time after it signed a deal with Singapore Tourism Board (STB) to base an ocean liner in Singapore for at least five years commencing 2025.
Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Josh D’Amaro and Singapore Minister for Transport and Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations S. Iswaran announced the deal to bring “magical cruise vacations” to the region after Disney Cruise Line and the STB signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to base the brand new ship exclusively in Singapore.
Officials will reveal the vessel’s maiden voyage, itineraries and experiences at a later date – but if recent history is anything to go by, this has the potential to be huge.
Singapore is already widely considered to be a massive cruise hub, thanks to its strategic location, air connectivity and infrastructure.
But this addition to its cruise offering could have big implications for the small state, with possibly millions of extra international cruise passengers and fly-cruise travellers – and their additional spend on the ground – hitting the country over the five-year period.
Estimated to carry a maximum of 6,000 passengers and 2,300 crew, the new mega-liner will also be fuelled by green methanol, which is one of the lowest-emission fuels currently available in the cruise industry.
To be constructed by Meyer Werft – the German-based firm that built the Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy and Disney Wish – the new vessel will feature “innovative Disney experiences along with the dazzling entertainment, world-class dining and legendary guest service that set Disney Cruise Line apart”.
And of course, guests can expect to rub shoulders with characters like Captain Mickey Mouse, Captain Minnie Mouse, Disney Princesses, Marvel Super Heroes and more.
Seventh ship for Disney
“This is a very exciting year for The Walt Disney Company – 2023 marks our 100th anniversary,” D’Amaro said.
“As part of this, Disney Cruise Line is currently undergoing an ambitious expansion with new ships and new destinations around the world.
“We are incredibly excited to make Singapore the home port to our seventh-launched ship, which will sail from here year-round starting in 2025.”
Meanwhile, STB CEO Keith Tan called the announcement “an important milestone for STB and reflects Disney Cruise Line’s strong confidence in Singapore and Southeast Asia”.
“The new Disney cruise ship will be an attraction itself and is expected to boost the tourism sector in Singapore for many years to come,” he said.
Before this happens though, Disney Cruise Line will sail into Australia. Here’s how one Melbourne-based agency got swept up in the wake of the Disney cruising phenomenon.
Read more about Disney Cruise Line’s arrival down under here.
Visit disneycruise.com for more information about Disney Cruise Line.
