Disney Believe's First Gigablock Floated Out at Meyer Werft

(9:58 a.m. EDT) — The first of the three blocks for Disney Cruise Line's upcoming ship, Disney Believe, was floated out of the construction hall at Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany.

Set to debut in late 2027, Believe is the first ship since Disney Wish to be built using the gigablock strategy, where the vessel is constructed in large sections, which are then welded together. Each section will weigh over 31,000 tons and will be complete with walls, plumbing and wiring.

This first section contains the midship of the Disney Believe, where guests will find some familiar places such as the Grand Hall. The next gigablock will be the forward section of the ship, followed by the aft.

Believe, the fourth ship in the Wish Class after Disney Wish (2022), Disney Treasure (2024) and Disney Destiny (2025), will feature new venue concepts and entertainment experiences inspired by Disney's stories, including Disney Animation's Encanto, Frozen, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Moana and The Little Mermaid.

The newbuild will measure approximately 144,000 gross tons, with a capacity to accommodate up to 4,000 passengers in 1,254 staterooms.

Disney Cruise Line plans to add 13 ships over the next several years. Originally, the company expected to complete the expansion by 2031, but earlier this year, Disney revealed that it is accelerating the timeline, with two of the next-generation ships expected to debut in 2029, followed by a third in late 2030.