Guests at the D23 Expo 2019 were among the first to learn the name of the fifth Disney Cruise Line ship will be Disney Wish. In addition to the announcement of the ship’s name, Bob Chapek and Joe Rohde revealed concept art and plans for the Cruise Line’s private destination on Lighthouse Point in The Bahamas.
What’s happening:
- At the D23 Expo today, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Bob Chapek revealed the highly anticipated name of the fifth Disney Cruise Line ship, as well as the iconic Disney character that will adorn the ship’s stern.
- Additionally, Chapek and Imagineer Joe Rohde shared details about the second island destination for Disney Cruise Line in The Bahamas.
Disney Wish:
- Disney Cruise Line’s fifth ship will be named Disney Wish and the ship’s stern will feature Rapunzel.
- Spirited, smart, curious and above all, adventurous, Rapunzel embodies the wish and desire to see and experience the world.
- The Disney Wish is scheduled for delivery in late 2021 and is expected to set sail beginning in January 2022.
Did you know:
- Disney Wish is one of the three new ships joining the Disney Cruise Line fleet.
- Each will be powered by liquefied natural gas and, at approximately 144,000 gross tons and 1,250 guest staterooms, will be slightly larger than the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy.
What they’re saying:
- Bob Chapek: “There couldn’t be a better name for our incredible new ship because making wishes come true is part of the Disney DNA and is at the heart of so many of our cherished stories.”
- Bob Chapek: “Each Disney Cruise Line ship is unique, with a name that embodies the excitement of sailing with Disney and the power of our stories. The new ships will have the experiences our guests love, as well as all-new magic.”
Lighthouse Point:
- Last year, the Bahamian government agreed to allow Disney Cruise Line to purchase a portion of land —Lighthouse Point— on the island of Eleuthera.
- Similar to Castaway Cay, this portion of the island will be reserved for Disney Cruise Line guests.
- Today, Chapek and Rohde shared information and two early conceptual artist renderings for Lighthouse Point.
- Construction at Lighthouse Point will begin only after an Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan are reviewed and accepted by the Government of The Bahamas and public consultation has occurred.
- Construction could begin in 2020 with completion in late 2022 or 2023.
Did you know:
- Disney Cruise Line completed its purchase of privately owned Lighthouse Point earlier this year and signed an agreement with the Government of The Bahamas that guides the responsible and sustainable way the site will be developed.
- Disney has committed to:
- Develop less than 20 percent of the property
- Employ sustainable building practices, including an open-trestle pier that eliminates the need to dredge a ship channel
- Establish environmental monitoring programs during construction and operation
- Donate more than 190 acres of privately owned land to Government, among other commitments.
What they’re saying:
- Bob Chapek: “With three new ships joining our fleet, we thought this would be an incredible opportunity to add another unique destination to our ports of call. We looked all over The Bahamas and Caribbean for an ideal location that would enable us to create new experiences, while celebrating the culture of this amazing region.”
- Joe Rohde: “The Lighthouse Point site is so beautiful and so full of nature that we want to preserve this and use our designs to call attention to the extraordinary quality of the place itself – a place of natural beauty with a rich and fascinating cultural tradition. We will be directly involved in conservation efforts to preserve and protect the environment that creates this beauty, and we will be working with artists of every kind, much like we did with Aulani in Hawaii, to create a unique destination that is rooted in Bahamian culture and imbued with Disney magic.”
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