Disney Cruise Line has pulled back the curtain on Disney Believe, the fourth Wish-class ship, with a reveal packed full of firsts. The headline news: the first-ever stage adaptation of "Encanto" will debut at sea when the ship launches. Despite the film's huge 2021 success, the Madrigal family story has never been staged before, making this a genuine exclusive for cruise passengers. Bookings open on 19 October 2026, and the maiden voyage is scheduled for 18 December 2027, sailing four- and five-night Bahamas and Caribbean itineraries from Port Everglades in Florida.
The ship's centrepiece Grand Hall will draw on "Moana", themed around the point where sky meets sea. Expect ocean-toned, bioluminescent colours and a chandelier designed to echo the movement of the waves. Disney's previous "Moana" stage show on the Disney Treasure set a high bar, so hopes are high for both the show and the space.
New bars and restaurants give the ship plenty of personality. Wishing Well is a lounge inspired by "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs", complete with a canopy of red apples, a Gothic castle-style bar and Evil Queen-inspired drinks. Sea Notes, the piano lounge just off the Grand Hall, goes full "Little Mermaid" with an iridescent piano and under-the-sea decor. For dinner, Oaken's Table: A Frozen Family Feast offers a new take on Frozen dining — set in a summery Scandinavian-style courtyard rather than a copy of the Arendelle experience on Disney Wish.
There's more beyond the big five. The Oceaneer Club for ages 3 to 10 gets a "Monsters, Inc." entrance with a "Code 2319" caution-tape gag. Casual eaters get Pluto's Pita Platters, a new included top-deck option, plus Big Hero Sips and Café Kakamora for snacks and drinks. A "Zootopia"-themed space called Gazelle will host games and daytime shows, and the 2,000-square-foot Tower Suite pays tribute to the Magic Kingdom, with rooms themed to different lands and fireworks-and-balloons touches in the living area.
Not everything is brand new — and that matters if you're comparing ships. Disney Believe will also carry the Haunted Mansion Parlor bar, the 1923 and Worlds of Marvel restaurants, "Tangled: The Musical", the AquaMouse waterslide and adults-only Enchanté and Palo Steakhouse. Fans hoping for entirely fresh rotational restaurants may be slightly disappointed, but first-time cruisers get a strong line-up regardless.
For families weighing a short Bahamas or Caribbean cruise, Disney Believe is shaping up as the most distinct option of the four Wish-class ships, mixing exclusive shows and lounges with the familiar Disney cruise formula. If you'd rather wait for something truly new, Disney's 2029 ship will kick off an entirely different class — part of a fleet expansion to 13 vessels by late 2030.
Why it matters: Disney cruise cabins for new ships sell fast, and the 19 October 2026 booking date is the moment to lock in early sailings — especially holiday-season departures around that 18 December maiden voyage.
