Categories: Cruise News

Disney Believe to feature Moana Grand Hall and Toy Story stern artwork

Disney Cruise Line has revealed new details of Disney Believe, including its Moana-themed Grand Hall and exterior character artwork.

The designs were presented during the Horizons: D23 Disney Experiences Showcase by Claire Weiss, Portfolio Executive Creative Director, offering a first look at several features planned for the new ship.

Scheduled to enter service in 2027, Disney Believe will follow Disney Wish, Disney Treasure, and Disney Destiny as the fourth ship in Disney Cruise Line’s Wish class.

Disney Believe

As on its three sister ships, the Grand Hall will serve as one of the central gathering spaces aboard Disney Believe, with each vessel using a different Disney story as the basis for the venue’s design.

On Disney Believe, the three-deck space will draw on Disney Animation’s Moana films and their South Pacific setting. A bronze cast statue of Moana accompanied by Pua and Heihei will form the focal point of the venue.

The interior will also incorporate Polynesian-inspired finishes referencing the cultures and traditions represented in the films. An initial rendering released during the D23 presentation showed the Moana statue overlooking the space, alongside design elements influenced by the landscapes of the South Pacific.

Disney Believe Moana atrium

Disney also revealed the character artwork that will distinguish Disney Believe from the other ships in its fleet.

Woody and Buzz Lightyear from Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story films will appear on the ship’s stern in the form of large character sculptures. The pair will be depicted using yellow crayons to write the vessel’s name across the stern.

The design will also alter one of Disney Cruise Line’s established exterior conventions. Instead of the calligraphic lettering traditionally used for ship names across the fleet, the stern of Disney Believe will feature block-style lettering referencing the typography associated with the Toy Story films.

The ship’s bow will draw on another Disney film, with Tinker Bell depicted as she appeared in Walt Disney Animation Studios’ 1953 Peter Pan.

The character will form part of the hand-painted filigree traditionally featured on the bows of Disney Cruise Line ships. On Disney Believe, the design will also incorporate silhouettes of Peter Pan, Wendy, Captain Hook, and other characters from the film.

The latest reveal provides further detail on Disney Believe ahead of its planned entry into service in 2027. The 140,000-gross-tonne vessel is currently under construction at Meyer Werft in Germany and will join Disney Cruise Line during a period of fleet expansion that includes additional Wish-class tonnage and a new three-ship class scheduled for delivery from 2029.

Shaun Ebelthite

Founder and editor of Cruise Arabia & Africa. I try to create the best news and information specifically for cruise passengers taking cruises to and from Dubai (where I live) and South Africa (where I was born). You can contact me at shaun(at)cruisearabiaonline.com.

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