Disney Adventure Gets 186-Foot Castle Ahead of Singapore Debut

Disney Cruise Line has installed a three-deck, storybook-style castle on its upcoming ship Disney Adventure at a Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany. The structure, designed as the first Disney “castle at sea,” is set to be a visual centerpiece when the ship enters service from Singapore in March 2026.

A former Global Dream project remade into Disney Adventure

Disney Adventure began as Global Dream, a cruise ship originally ordered for Dream Cruises under Genting Hong Kong and built by the German shipyard MV Werften. The vessel was about 70% complete when Genting filed for bankruptcy, and Disney Cruise Line purchased the unfinished ship in 2022.

Since the acquisition, Disney has undertaken extensive renovation and reconfiguration work to align the 208,000-gross-ton ship with Disney Cruise Line standards, with construction and outfitting continuing in Germany. The ship is designed to accommodate up to 6,700 guests and is expected to become the largest vessel in Disney’s fleet when it debuts.

A three-deck castle designed as a shipboard icon

The newly installed castle rises 186 feet and spans three decks. Disney designed it to resemble the company’s on-screen and theme-park castles, including a paper cutout look similar to a pop-up book, multiple turrets, and a central set of stained-glass-style panels.

Those panels spotlight three Disney heroines and include nature-inspired elements tied to Moana, Tangled, and Frozen, with a Disney family crest at the center.

Disney Imagination Garden and onboard entertainment plans

The castle anchors Disney Imagination Garden, one of seven themed spaces planned onboard. Disney describes the garden as a major public area with two dining venues, a bar, and a new category of garden-view cabins.

The area is also planned as a performance hub. The Garden Stage is scheduled to host multiple productions, including Avengers Assemble, which Disney has said will feature stunts and special effects with characters such as Spider-Man, Iron Man, and Captain America.

Seven themed areas planned across the ship

Disney Adventure is being built around seven distinct themed zones drawing on Disney Animation, Pixar, and Marvel, spanning dining, retail, entertainment, and open-air areas:

• Disney Imagination Garden: A central district anchored by the castle, built around dining and stage entertainment, including the Garden Stage productions.
• Disney Discovery Reef: A planned area focused on food and shopping, positioned as one of the ship’s core dining-and-retail zones.
• San Fransokyo Street: Designed as a family entertainment space, reflecting the ship’s broader emphasis on themed public areas.
• Wayfinder Bay: An open-air space inspired by the South Pacific, intended as one of the ship’s outdoor gathering areas.
• Town Square: Planned with multiple bars, cafes, and restaurants, serving as another major hub for food-and-beverage venues.
• Marvel Landing: A headline zone themed around superheroes and supervillains, built around attraction-style experiences described by Disney as brand-new.
• Toy Story Place: A Pixar-themed area featuring Toy Story characters, aimed at family audiences.

In promotional language tied to the concept, Disney has described the layout as “seven imaginatively themed areas” designed to bring Disney, Marvel, and Pixar stories onboard at a large scale.

Marvel Landing rides and early creative previews

Disney has previewed three rides planned for Marvel Landing: Groot Galaxy Spin, Pym Quantum Racers, and Ironcycle Test Run. As currently described by Disney, Groot Galaxy Spin is presented as a roller coaster experience extending more than 820 feet and has been billed as the first-ever roller coaster at sea.

Walt Disney Imagineering shared early development material on social media, including imagery of the Groot Galaxy Spin ride-vehicle concept. Walt Disney Imagineering industrial designer Marcel Santos said the creative goal for one piece of ride artwork was “trying to capture the mood and the feeling, and how fun, energetic, and colorful that this attraction is meant to be.”

The broader idea of adding ride-style attractions onboard has drawn mixed reactions, with some supporters calling it an “awesome” fit for Disney’s family focus, while others have questioned feasibility and safety at sea.

Fuel plans and sustainability positioning

Disney has said Disney Adventure will be powered by LNG (liquefied natural gas) and will also have the capability to use green methanol. The company has positioned those fuel technologies as part of a broader push toward greener cruising as the cruise industry faces increasing scrutiny over environmental impacts.

Singapore homeport, short sailings, and the March 2026 timeline

Disney Adventure is scheduled to operate year-round from the Marina Bay Cruise Centre in Singapore under an agreement with the Singapore Tourism Board, and Disney has said the ship is expected to remain there for at least five years. The deployment makes it the first ship in Disney Cruise Line’s fleet planned to homeport year-round in Asia.

Disney’s schedule centers on three- and four-night “cruises to nowhere” roundtrip from Singapore. The ship’s first scheduled cruise is a four-night sailing departing on March 5, 2026. The entry-into-service timeline changed during planning, with Disney Adventure previously slated to debut in December 2025 before being postponed to March 2026.

Before passenger operations begin, the ship still has major work ahead, including continued outfitting of public areas and staterooms. Sea trials are expected in early 2026 as Disney Adventure moves through final readiness milestones ahead of its first sailing from Singapore.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

When does Disney Adventure begin sailing?

Disney Adventure is scheduled to enter service in March 2026, with its first scheduled cruise departing Singapore on March 5, 2026.

Where will Disney Adventure be homeported?

The ship will be based at the Marina Bay Cruise Centre in Singapore and is expected to remain there for at least five years under an agreement with the Singapore Tourism Board.

What is special about the “castle at sea” on Disney Adventure?

The ship’s newly installed, storybook-style castle spans three decks and rises 186 feet. It is designed as Disney Cruise Line’s first “castle at sea” and anchors the Disney Imagination Garden onboard.

What fuel technologies will Disney Adventure use?

Disney has said the ship will be powered by LNG (liquefied natural gas) and will also have the capability to use green methanol.

What are the ship’s size and capacity?

Disney Adventure is listed at 208,000 gross tons and is designed to accommodate up to 6,700 guests, making it set to be the largest ship in Disney Cruise Line’s fleet when it enters service.