Today, Oriental Land Company, LTD announced via a press release on their website the launch of a new business project, a licensing agreement for a cruise business with Disney Enterprises, Inc to bring Disney Cruise vaations to Japan with year-rounds service expected to start in fiscal year 2028.

This decision is based on the Oriental Land Company board of directors meeting held on July 9, 2024. The Oriental Land Company reached a decision to enter into the cruise business in Japan, and has concluded a license agreement with the Disney Company to bring the magic of Disney cruises to the market. This decision was based on the potential growth of the cruise market in Japan, the experience the Company has gained in its theme park and hotel operations, and its strong relationship with the Disney Company which will serve as a great advantage for this business opportunity.

“I am sincerely proud that Disney and Oriental Land will be able to work together to create a world-class cruise business in Japan,” said Yumiko Takano, representative director, chairperson and CEO, Oriental Land. “Oriental Land will use their knowhow from the theme park business to continue pushing boundaries and provide family entertainment cruise experiences filled with inspiration and surprise.”

Based on the license agreement with the Disney Company, construction for a brand new Wish class cruise ship will commence in Japanese fiscal year 2025, with the objective to become operational from Japanese fiscal year 2028. Approximately 330 billion yen ($2,049,663,000 USD) has been earmarked for the project including construction and preparations. Oriental Land Company will own and operate this brand new Disney-branded cruise business in Japan.

“Disney Cruise Line has ambitious plans to bring family vacations and Disney storytelling to more guests around the world than ever before,” said Josh D’Amaro, chairman, Disney Experiences. “We are thrilled to continue the success of this expansion as we collaborate with Oriental Land Co. to introduce another distinctly Disney vacation experience to families and fans in Japan.”

The new cruise ship build will be about 140,000 gross tons, with about 1200 staterooms with a capacity for about 4000 passengers and 1500 crew – about the same specs as the other Wish Class ships. The new ship will feature many of the Wish Class venues and experiences with some modifications designed with Japanese guests in mind. MEYER WERFT has been selected to build the new vessel scheduled to be delivered by the shipyard in calendar year 2028 and enter service in early 2029. Click here for the MEYER WERFT press release.

“I am very happy to sign this contract today and win OLC as a new customer from Japan. This order contributes to the long term development of shipbuilding in Papenburg”, says Bernard Meyer.

“With this new order, we look forward to continuing our relationship with Disney and working with Oriental Land Company, which also has a long-standing relationship with Disney, as a new customer. This is a strong signal for shipbuilding in Papenburg and shows that companies from all over the world rely on the quality of MEYER WERFT,” says Bernd Eikens, CEO of the MEYER Group. 

MEYER WERFT has already delivered the Disney Wish, the first ship in the Wish class, to Disney Cruise Line in 2022. The two sister ships Disney Treasure and Disney Destiny are already under construction in Papenburg and will be delivered in 2024 and 2025.

“We have long-term relationships with both Meyer Werft and the Oriental Land Company. We are delighted to be working with both of them to create a Disney cruise experience for the Japanese market,” said Thomas Mazloum, president, Disney Signature Experiences.

The new Wish Class cruise ship will be registered in Japan, and will mainly sail short distance departing from and arriving at ports around Tokyo metropolitan area year-round. The full press release from Oriental Land Company can be read here or in the images below.

This is the latest evolution in an over 40-year relationship between Disney and Oriental Land Company which has been offering guests immersive experiences through its theme park business at Tokyo Disney Resort. Established in 1960, Oriental Land Co., Ltd. owns and operates the Disney theme parks in Japan based on its agreement with Disney. It opened Tokyo Disneyland in 1983, Tokyo DisneySea, the first ever ocean-themed Disney theme park, in 2001, and operates Tokyo Disney Resort which includes hotels, a monorail, and a retail-dining-entertainment complex. More recently, in June 2024, it opened Tokyo DisneySea’s eighth themed port Fantasy Springs, bringing further evolution to Tokyo Disney Resort. 

This is a new opportunity to add another unique immersive Disney experience that will create lifelong memories for families. The family entertainment on Disney cruises will bring happiness and enjoyment for guests. The addition of a locally based Disney cruise ship will offer fun and relaxation for Japanese Disney fans and visitors from around the world during magical voyages filled with the incredible entertainment, world-class dining and exceptional Guest Service that set Disney cruises apart.

Details will be announced via the Oriental Land Company as soon as they are determined. What we do know at this time is Oriental Land Company will operate a new Disney cruise ship to be registered and based in Japan year-round. The ship will be constructed at Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, with imaginative designs created by Walt Disney Imagineering. A sister ship to the popular Disney Wish, it will feature many guest-favorite venues and experiences from that ship with select modifications specially designed with Japanese guests in mind. It is expected to be approximately 140,000 gross tons and powered by liquefied natural gas, with about 1,250 staterooms.

More details about the maiden voyage, itineraries and onboard experiences will be announced at a later date.