Key Aspects:
- Disney Cruise Line held the coin ceremony and keel-laying for Disney Believe at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany on September 29, 2026.
- The specially minted coin to bring good fortune to the ship features Tinker Bell, matching the previously revealed bow character for the vessel.
- An upcoming livestream event on October 7, 2026 is expected to reveal Disney Believe‘s homeport, itineraries, entertainment, and new venues.
Magic is happening at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, as Disney Cruise Line has celebrated the keel-laying for Disney Believe, which will be the fourth Wish-class ship in the fleet when she debuts in late 2027.
The event on Tuesday, September 29, 2026 included a coin ceremony, which has been a maritime tradition for centuries. A new coin is laid beneath the ship’s keel to bestow good fortune, best wishes, and smooth sailing on the vessel and all who embark on her, both guests and crew members.
In the case of Disney Believe, the custom-minted coin features Tinker Bell in a sassy pose, with the ship’s name at the bottom of the coin and Disney Cruise Line at the top. The edge of the coin has a frame that mimics the rivets of a porthole.
“Tinker Bell’s image is bound to imbue the ship with a sprinkle of faith, trust, and pixie dust, helping future guests believe in the promise and possibility of their dreams coming true,” Disney Cruise Line said.
The reverse side of the coin has the ship’s name and a bow profile, along with the hull number, S723, and Meyer Werft.
Disney Cruise Line and shipyard executives were on hand for the magical moment, which also included celebratory confetti and other festive touches.
While the keel for the ship has just been laid, construction on the 144,000-gross-ton ship is already well underway. The first of three gigablocks for Disney Believe has already been assembled and was floated out at the shipyard, comprising the midship portion of the vessel.
The next gigablock will be the ship’s forward section, including the main show theater. The aft section will be assembled last.
Disney Believe Breaks Cruise Line Traditions
Though Disney Cruise Line is following long-established maritime traditions with the coin placement and keel-laying ceremony, the cruise line has already broken some of its own traditions with Disney Believe.
Cruise Hive previously reported that Disney Cruise Line revealed on August 15, 2026 that Tinker Bell would be the bow character for Disney Believe, surrounded by a delicate filigree that features the silhouettes of other characters from the 1953 classic “Peter Pan” from Walt Disney Animation Studios.
The reveal did spark some controversy among the cruise line’s fans, however. While Tinker Bell certainly has a place of honor in The Walt Disney Company, the other eight ships in the Disney fleet all showcase some variation of Mickey Mouse or Minnie Mouse on the bow, from Sorcerer Mickey on the first ship, Disney Magic (1998), to Captain Mickey on the newest Disney ship in service, Disney Adventure (2026).
Furthermore, the aft font for the ship’s name will no longer be the classic swirly font seen on all other Disney vessels. Instead, a thick, block font will spell out Disney Believe.
The font is a familiar one used in the “Toy Story” franchise. While an unexpected departure from tradition, the choice nevertheless matches Disney Believe as the ship’s stern characters are Woody and Buzz Lightyear.
Disney Cruise Line continues to tease new details about Disney Believe, and a large livestream reveal of the ship’s homeport, initial itineraries, onboard entertainment, and new venues is planned for Wednesday, October 7, 2026.
