Disney Cruise Line intends to expand into Asia market with Global Dream

Disney Cruise Line has announced that it will homeport in Asia for the first time, with its new cruise ship (the former Global Dream) to be based in Singapore from 2025.

Disney Cruise Line acquired Global Dream from Genting Hong Kong earlier this year during the group’s liquidation, with the ship due to be the seventh in the Disney fleet and the largest it has ever operated. Her fleet mate World Dream was acquired this year by Cruise Saudi.

Disney Cruise Line has signed an agreement with the Singapore Tourism Board to homeport the vessel in Singapore until at least 2030.

“This is a very exciting year for The Walt Disney Company — 2023 marks our 100th anniversary,” said Josh D’Amaro, Chairman, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products. “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,” he added.

More details about the maiden voyage, itineraries and onboard experiences will be announced at a later date, the company said, although it did confirm that the new ship would carry around 6,000 passengers and 2,800 crew. It’s not inconceivable that the ship might cruise via Dubai on her way from Europe to Asia.

At 208,000 gross tons Global Dream is one of the largest cruise ships in the world, almost 50 percent larger than the cruise line’s current largest ship Disney Wish, which debuted last year with a range of new to the line features.

Global Dream is currently heading to the MV Werften shipyard in Wismar, Germany, where her construction will be completed. The shipyard is under the management of Meyer Werft, the Papenburg-based company that built Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy and Disney Wish.

Meyer Werft is also constructing two additional Triton-class cruise ships for Disney, which will be sister ships to Disney Wish.

When she is completed, Global Dream is expected to be among the first in the cruise industry to be fuelled by green methanol, one of the lowest emission fuels available.

“We look forward to welcoming the magic of Disney Cruise Line to Singapore in 2025,” said Keith Tan, Chief Executive, Singapore Tourism Board (STB). “This is 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 added.