Disney Adventure

Construction of the Global class

Genting Hong Kong ordered two Global class ships in May 2016 from its subsidiary Lloyd Werft for service with Star Cruises, with delivery of the first vessel planned for 2019.[4] In July 2016, Genting reorganized Lloyd Werft, creating MV Werften as a builder of large cruise ships.[19] In March 2018, Genting announced that the ships would instead be transferred to Dream Cruises, operating from Chinese ports in summer and sailing to Southeast Asia, Oceania, and the west coast of the United States during the remainder of the year.[20]

Because the design was not yet complete at the time of ordering, construction did not begin until March 8, 2018, when ceremonial steel cuttings were held at MV Werften's shipyards in Wismar and Rostock. Work on the first ship, Global Dream, formally began that day.[21] The keel was laid on September 11, 2018, in Rostock.[22] Major components were built at both yards, with final assembly taking place in Wismar. A large hull section was floated out of the Rostock dry dock on November 22, 2019, and towed to Wismar,[23] where it entered the dry dock the following day.[24][25][26]

Construction was scheduled to take just under three years, with the first ship to be delivered in late 2020 and the second in late 2021.[27]

Purchase by Disney and naming

Due to the temporary closure of the shipyard in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, delivery of both Global-class ships was expected to be delayed.[28]

The pandemic's impact on tourism contributed to the collapse of Genting Hong Kong. MV Werften, Genting's German shipbuilding subsidiary, sought financial support from the German government to keep the shipyards operating but was unsuccessful. Hours after talks broke down, the company filed for bankruptcy on January 19, 2022.[29][30][31]

On November 16, 2022, the insolvency administrator sold the first, partially completed ship, Global Dream, to Disney Cruise Line for €40 million.[32] The second, less complete vessel was sold for scrap. The Wismar shipyard itself was acquired by TKMS (ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems), with provisions allowing Disney Cruise Line's longtime shipbuilding partner, Meyer Werft, to lease the facilities in order to complete the vessel.

At the time of the acquisition, Disney estimated that completing the ship would cost approximately US$1 billion, less than half the cost typically associated with constructing a new cruise ship. During the redesign process, Disney Imagineers substantially reworked the vessel to better align it with the company's family-oriented cruise model.[33] Passenger accommodations were reduced to 2,111 cabins, with a maximum capacity of approximately 6,000 passengers, in order to improve the passenger-to-crew service ratio.[34] The conversion proved more complex than initially anticipated, as the original design had been optimized for gambling-oriented cruise operations. Beginning in 2023, extensive structural modifications were undertaken, including the removal and relocation of internal steel supports, significant expansion of galley facilities, enlargement of entertainment venues, and the addition of multiple themed dining experiences.[33]

Disney's final cost for the vessel is estimated at approximately US$1.8 billion, which remains about 10 percent less than the cost of constructing a newly built Disney cruise ship. According to the company, converting the existing hull also reduced the overall project timeline by several years compared with building a vessel from the keel up.[33]

Disney worked in collaboration with Meyer Werft to complete the vessel ahead of entry into service in 2026.[35] The vessel will be the largest ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet and the first to be homeported year-round outside the United States, operating from Singapore.[36][37] On September 8, 2023, the ship was officially announced as the Disney Adventure at the Destination D23 Expo.[38] Interior design work was carried out by Estonia-based firm LTH-Baas.[39][40]

Construction was originally scheduled to be completed in May 2025,[41] with a maiden voyage planned for December 15, 2025.[42][43] The ship was floated out on April 19, 2025,[44][45][46] and departed Wismar for sea trials on September 1.[47][48] However, on September 10, 2025, Disney Cruise Line announced that the maiden voyage had been postponed to March 10, 2026.[49]

The ship was delivered to Disney Cruise Line on December 13, 2025.[50] It left Bremerhaven on January 4, 2026,[51][52] with stops made in Port Canaveral, Florida,[53] Los Angeles, California, and Tokyo, Japan. On February 2, 2026, the Panama Canal Authority announced that the ship is the largest by gross tonnage and passenger capacity Neopanamax cruise ship to cross the Panama Canal, breaking the previous record held by Norwegian Bliss.[54] Disney Adventure arrived at the Marina Bay Cruise Centre in Singapore on March 3, 2026, to a water salute and fireworks.[55] It was officially christened by godparent Robert Downey Jr. in a ceremony the following night, on March 4.[56] On March 10, 2026, Disney Adventure entered service and embarked on her maiden voyage, sailing on a three-night cruise from Singapore and back.[57][58]

On-board activities

The ship features seven themed areas, conceptually similar to lands at Disney theme parks: Disney Discovery Reef, Toy Story Place, Wayfinder Bay, Marvel Landing, San Fransokyo Street, Town Square, and Disney Imagination Garden.[61][64]

Disney Imagination Garden includes the Storybook Castle, described by the company as its first physical Disney castle created as an art installation aboard a ship. The structure rises three decks and is styled to resemble a pop-up storybook.[61]

Marvel Landing includes the Ironcycle Test Run, designed by Maurer AG and described as Disney's first roller coaster at sea. At the time of the ship's launch, it was reported to be the longest roller coaster at sea, extending more than 820 ft.[61] The area also includes two additional rides with lower height requirements: Pym Quantum Racers and Groot Galaxy Spin. Unlike other Disney Cruise Ships, the Disney Adventure does not have an AquaMouse water slide. Instead, Woody and Jessie's Wild Slides, a pair of water slide located at Toy Story Place, stand in place of the AquaMouse.

Entertainment

Disney Adventure contains the following entertainment venues:

• Garden Theatre (live original productions: Avengers Assemble!, Duffy and The Friend Ship and Baymax Super Exercise Expo)
• Wayfinder Bay (live original production: Moana: Call of the Sea)
• Walt Disney Theatre (live original productions: Remember and Disney Seas the Adventure)
• Baymax Cinemas (screens motion pictures)

Dining

Every night of a Disney Adventure cruise, guests dine at a different restaurant. This is called "rotational dining". On a Disney ship, guests rotate along with their servers, which helps develop the relationship between diner and wait staff.

There are six rotational dining restaurants on the Disney Adventure:

Because each voyage only lasts three to four nights, it is not possible to visit all six restaurants in one sailing. Thus, the rotational dinning on the Disney Adventure is divided into three districts, with two restaurants per district, and guests are randomly assigned to one restaurant in each district. In addition, unlike other Disney Cruise Line ships, the Disney Adventure does not have its own buffet location. Therefore, the Enchanted Summer and Pixar Market restaurants function as buffets during breakfast and lunch. Two premium dining restaurants are available at an additional cost: Mike and Sulley's Flavors of Asia (deck 10 aft) and Palo Trattoria (decks 10 and 11 aft), the latter which is exclusively for adults.

• Hollywood Spotlight Club (deck 8 aft)
• Navigator's Club (deck 6 aft)
• Animator's Palate (deck 5 aft, also featured on four of the other Disney cruise ships)
• Animator's Table (deck 9 aft)
• Enchanted Summer Restaurant (deck 6 midship)
• Pixar Market Restaurant (deck 17 aft)