Key Aspects:
- Oriental Land Company, Ltd. announced the name of its forthcoming Wish-class ship as Disney Imagination.
- The ship is being specifically designed for the Japanese market and will homeport from Tokyo beginning in spring 2029.
- Classic characters Ariel and Sebastian from “The Little Mermaid” will be on the ship’s stern, but few other details have been announced.
Oriental Land Company, Ltd. and Oriental Land Cruise Co., Ltd. have announced the name of the forthcoming Japan-based vessel for Disney Cruise Line: Disney Imagination.
“Disney Imagination is a ship of dreams and wishes filled with the power of ‘imagination’ – the heart of Disney’s storytelling,” the company said. “The name embodies the hope for guests of all generations to enjoy their voyage while experiencing the ‘imagination’ of Disney.”
Also revealed are the ship’s stern characters, Ariel and Sebastian from the 1989 Walt Disney Animation Studios classic, “The Little Mermaid.” An artist concept of the stern sculpture shows the red-haired mermaid, who is well known for using her imagination, swinging on a length of seaweed while she puts the finishing touches on the ship’s name.
Sebastian, the Jamaican-influenced court composer crab appointed as Ariel’s chaperone on her quest for humanhood, is also clinging to the seaweed, holding a shell with the paint Ariel is using to paint the hull.
The stylized border around the ship’s name includes shells and starfish, with swirls and flourishes reminiscent of water splashes but also very close in style to the classic decorations on the sterns of other ships in the Disney fleet.
Disney Cruise Line fans will be pleased to note that the ship’s name is portrayed in the iconic swirly font used on all other vessels except one. Cruise Hive reported on the font change for the recently revealed Disney Believe, which uses a “Toy Story”-inspired font to match that ship’s stern characters. The change in font had mixed reactions from the cruise line’s fans.
Few details have yet been revealed about Disney Imagination. While no confirmation of exact venues and themes for interior spaces has been announced, the ship will feature stage shows, Disney character meet-and-greets, approximately 30 food and beverage venues with three main dining restaurants, exclusive merchandise, and more. Both children’s and adults-only areas are also planned.
It is common for Disney Cruise Line to tease details on new ships while the ship is under construction and before the initial bookings are open. On Wednesday, October 7, 2026, the cruise line livestreamed a reveal on Disney Believe, which is scheduled to debut in December 2027.
Disney Imagination is scheduled to begin construction in the second half of Japan’s fiscal 2026, which begins this month. The fifth Wish-class ship is planned to enter service in spring 2029, though no exact date has been announced for her debut.
The Company Behind Disney Cruise Line Japan
The ship will be operated under the official company name Disney Cruise Line Japan, and Disney Imagination is the first vessel for the company. She will be constructed at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, where her sister Wish-class ships were also built and where Disney Believe is currently under construction.
Oriental Land Company is a Japanese leisure and tourism company that also operates the Tokyo Disney Resort, including Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea.
The company pays licensing fees and royalties to the Walt Disney Company but is not technically part of Disney. The Walt Disney Company does provide consultation, design services, and oversight to ensure continuity in the guest experience.
Oriental Land Company, Ltd. signed an agreement with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government on November 29, 2024 that designated the Port of Tokyo as the premier homeport for Disney Cruise Line Japan’s Asian operations. The announcement of the Wish-class ship specifically designed for the Japanese market had been made in July 2024.
