Disney Cruise Line announced Captain Minnie will grace the bow of the Disney Wish during today’s keel laying ceremony at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. The Disney Wish bow will feature the iconic filigree scrollwork art pattern reminiscent of the classic ocean liners of the 1930s with Captain Minnie featured as the centerpiece.

“As we look to the future with anticipation and excitement for continuing our legacy of creating magical vacations for families across the globe, we are thrilled to reach this significant milestone in the ship building process and to unveil Captain Minnie as the beloved character on the bow of the Disney Wish,” said Thomas Mazloum, president of Disney Cruise Line.

According to the Disney Parks Blog post, April 8, 2021 is the day Disney Cruise Line reached a significant construction milestone marked by the traditional keel laying ceremony of the Disney Wish.

Keel laying takes place when the first block, or section of a ship, is lowered into the building dock, and a newly minted coin is placed under the keel for good fortune. The coin created for the Disney Wish features Captain Minnie, who made her debut aboard Disney Cruise Line ships in 2019 as part of a collection of initiatives aiming to inspire the next generation of female leaders in the cruise industry.

“In maritime tradition, keel laying is the ceremonial beginning of the ship’s life,” said Philip Gennotte, portfolio project management executive, Walt Disney Imagineering Germany, who placed the coin at the ceremony.“Today marked a momentous occasion for the Disney Wish, and I could not be more proud of our Imagineers, the cast and crew at Disney Cruise Line and the team at Meyer Werft, the shipyard in Germany, who are bringingthis enchanting ship to life.”

The magic of Captain Minnie also came alive today as we reached a significant construction milestone for the Disney Wish marked by the traditional keel laying ceremony. During a ship’s construction, when the first block, or section of a ship, is lowered into the building dock, a newly minted coin is placed under the keel for good fortune. The coin created for the Disney Wish features none other than … you guessed it, Captain Minnie!

Disney’s wish with Captain Minnie at the helm of the Disney Wish, is to continue inspiring girls and young women around the globe!

While Disney has been extremely slow at teasing information about the Disney Wish there is light at the end of the tunnel. Disney Cruise Line will hold a grand reveal of the Disney Wish on April 29, 2021 during the Once Upon a Disney Wish virtual media event. Based on the Disney Parks Blog article, it sounds like they might be offering a livestream for everyone to enjoy.

As previously announced, the Disney Wish is scheduled to sail its maiden voyage in summer 2022. Information on itineraries and bookings for the ship will be released at a later date.

The Disney Wish will showcase the immersive family entertainment, enchanting storytelling and unparalleled service that only Disney can deliver. The ship will be powered by liquified natural gas, or LNG, one of the cleanest-burning fuels available. At approximately 144,000 gross tons and 1,250 guest staterooms, the ship will be slightly larger than the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy.

CORRECTION: The original video incorrectly stated the keel laying was in the future. The video embedded in this article is a corrected version showing the proper keel laying date of April 8, 2021.