Disney and Oriental Land Co., Expand Ties into Cruise Business

For more than 40 years, Disney and Oriental Land Co., Ltd. (OLC) have worked together to build theme parks and hotels in Japan, including Tokyo Disney Resort. Now, the two businesses have reached a new licensing agreement to jointly launch a new Disney Cruise Line ship. The ship will bring year-round Disney sailings to Japan beginning in 2029.

According to a press release from OLC, “This decision is based on the growth potential of the cruise market in Japan, the Company’s experience in operating its theme parks and hotels, and its strong relationship with the Disney Company.”

The partnership will see OLC build and operate a Disney-branded cruise ship, which will be the fourth Triton-class ship in Disney’s growing fleet. Construction is set to begin in Japan’s fiscal year 2025, which begins April 1. The ship will be built at Meyer Werft’s Papenburg, Germany shipyard. Disney is currently building its next ship, Disney Treasure, at the same shipyard, which is set to launch in December 2024 with week-long sailings from Port Canaveral, Florida.

The Japan-based ship will feature many of the same attractions and experiences as the Disney Wish, though there will be some specially designed spaces that are more geared toward Japanese Disney fans. The new ship will weigh about 140,000 gross tons, be powered by liquefied natural gas, and have about 1,250 staterooms. It is expected to accommodate about 4,000 guests and 1,500 crew members.

While the exact itinerary is not yet known, a press release from OLC stated that the ship will primarily make short-distance voyages departing from and arriving at ports around the Tokyo metropolitan area. According to OLC, the total investment for the project is around ¥330 billion, or about $2 billion.

“I am very proud that Disney and Oriental Land will be able to work together to create a world-class cruise business in Japan,” said Yumiko Takano, representative director, chairman and CEO, Oriental Land. “Oriental Land will use their knowledge from the theme park business to continue to push the boundaries and provide a family entertainment cruise experience that is full of inspiration and surprises.”

The announcement follows Disney Cruise Line’s announcement of its third Wish-class ship, Disney Destiny, plus Disney Adventure sailing from Singapore in 2025. Disney Cruise Line also opened its new island destination in the Bahamas, Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point in June 2024. With the news of the Japan-based cruise ship, Disney’s fleet will have nine ships sailing around the world by 2029.

2024 is also a big year for Tokyo Disney Resort, which launched its newest attraction, Fantasy Springs, at Tokyo DisneySea in June. The $2.1 billion, 35-hectare development is one of eight “ports,” or themed attractions, within the park. Fantasy Springs is being built through a partnership between OLC and Disney.

“Disney Cruise Line has ambitious plans to bring family vacations and Disney stories to more guests around the world than ever before,” said Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Experiences in a press release. “We are thrilled to build on the success of this expansion as we collaborate with Oriental Land Co. to introduce unique Disney vacation experiences to families and fans in Japan.”