Disney Brings Forward Delivery of New builds

Disney Brings Forward Delivery of New builds

Disney Cruise Line is bringing forward the delivery of two of its upcoming newbuilds, according to Walt Disney Company’s recent earnings call.

Documents released during the presentation point to three newbuilds entering service during calendar year 2029 and one in 2030.

Two vessels are now expected to be delivered in 2029, including the first and second ships of a new class ordered from Meyer Werft in mid-2024.

To be built at the German shipyard, the prototypes were initially scheduled to enter service in 2029 and 2030, with a third sister set to be delivered in 2031.

While the first two ships are now set to debut in the same year, Disney documents point to the third newbuild being delivered in 2030.

The vessels are believed to be smaller than the latest newbuilds, coming in at approximately 105,000 tons and capacity for 3,000 guests.

Disney is also building a fourth Wish-class ship, the Disney Believe, which will be delivered by Meyer Werft in late 2027.

Additional details of the 140,000-ton vessel, including deployment and onboard features, will be revealed later this year.

The Walt Disney Company presentation also highlighted the introduction of Disney Cruise Line Japan’s first newbuild.

Currently being developed in cooperation with Oriental Land Co. (OLC), the ship will sail from Japanese ports on a full-time basis.

Ordered at the Meyer Werft shipyard in 2024, the unnamed Wish-class vessel is set to be delivered in late 2028 before making its debut in early 2029.

Disney Cruise Line Japan will be operated through a partnership between OLC and the Walt Disney Company, with the NYK Group serving as ship manager and business consultant.

With revenues driven by a ten percent increase in parks and cruising businesses, the Walt Disney Company reported net income of $2.8 billion on revenues of $22.7 billion for its fiscal third quarter.

Crystal Cruises parent agrees to buy German shipyard

The parent company of Crystal Cruises has agreed to acquire leading shipyard Lloyd Werft in Bremerhaven, Germany.

Global cruise and resort company Genting Hong Kong is to pay €17.5 million for 70% of a new shipbuilding business and a 50% ownership of the shipyard’s land.

The company will complete the acquisition of Lloyd Werft subject to the fulfilment of certain final purchase conditions.

The move follows plans for massive expansion of Crystal Cruises with the introduction of Crystal Yacht Cruises in December, Crystal River Cruises and Crystal Luxury Air in 2017 and new cruise ships from late 2018.

Genting Hong Kong signed a letter of intent earlier this year with Lloyd Werft to build Crystal’s ‘Exclusive Class’ polar-class cruise ships.

Lloyd Werft will also build luxury river yachts to sail to destinations in France, Germany, Switzerland, Holland, Belgium, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria.

Genting Hong Kong chairman and chief executive, Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, said: “Lloyd Werft has built and lengthened six of the ships owned by an affiliate of the company and has the expertise to build a series of world class cruise ships for the company, which will include the ‘Exclusive Class’ vessels for Crystal Cruises.

“Ownership in Lloyd Werft will enable Genting Hong Kong to leverage on the shipyard’s technical expertise and their well-established and long track record in the shipbuilding industry.”

Crystal president and chief executive, Edie Rodriguez, said: “With such great anticipation for Crystal River Cruises and Crystal Exclusive Class ocean vessels, we are incredibly excited about Genting’s groundbreaking investment in the Lloyd Werft shipyard that will contribute mightily to Crystal Cruises’ expansion.”