Disney Believe Keel Laid at Meyer Werft Ahead of 2027 Debut
A Tinker Bell coin was placed beneath the keel during the Papenburg ceremony, matching the character set to appear in golden filigree on Disney Believe's bow.
Disney Cruise Line held Disney Believe’s keel-laying ceremony at Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany, on September 29, 2026. A specially minted coin depicting Tinker Bell was temporarily placed beneath the keel, linking the shipbuilding custom to the character chosen for the vessel’s bow artwork.
The approximately 144,000-gross-ton, LNG-fueled newbuild will be Disney’s ninth ship and fourth Wish-class vessel. It is expected to accommodate up to 4,000 passengers at full occupancy, with approximately 1,555 crew.
At a subsequent presentation aboard Disney Wish on October 7, Disney confirmed that the maiden voyage will depart on December 18, 2027. The inaugural deployment will comprise four- and five-night Bahamas and Caribbean cruises from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Three-section assembly advances at Meyer Werft
Construction began with steel cutting in August 2025. The first of the vessel’s three gigablocks, containing the midship area, floated out on September 18, ahead of the keel-laying ceremony. That section includes the space for the Grand Hall, which will have a Moana-inspired design and a bronze statue of Moana accompanied by Pua and Heihei.
Natacha Rafalski, president of Disney Signature Experiences, attended the float-out and described it as a “fascinating process and an exciting milestone bringing us one step closer to completion.”
Work is now progressing on the forward gigablock, which will contain the main show theater and several lounges. The aft section will be assembled last and will house two of the vessel’s main restaurants.
The gigablocks incorporate internal walls, plumbing and electrical wiring before they are joined by welding. Painting and carpeting come in later phases, along with the artwork. Photographs released by Disney show lifeboat davits already fitted to the completed section, but the lifeboats have not yet been installed. Disney has not announced a specific shipyard delivery date.
Coin design connects the ceremony with the bow
Participants in the keel-laying ceremony included Tracy Wilson, senior vice president and general manager of Disney Cruise Line operations, and Andres Ovalles, portfolio executive for project management at Walt Disney Imagineering. Meyer Werft CEO Andre Walter and chief operating officer Jorg Heidelberg also attended.
Walt Disney Imagineering designed the commemorative coin. Its reverse displays a bow profile, the ship’s name, hull identifier S723 and Meyer Werft’s name. On the character side, the border resembles the riveted edge of a porthole, with the cruise line and vessel names surrounding the portrait.
Disney traces the coin-placement ritual to ancient Greece and Rome and describes it as a wish for good fortune for the vessel and its future crew.
The bow design was revealed at D23 on August 15, alongside the stern characters and Grand Hall centerpiece. Tinker Bell will appear within golden filigree incorporating silhouettes of Peter Pan, Wendy and Captain Hook. The selection departs from the line’s other eight ships, whose bows feature versions of Mickey Mouse or Minnie Mouse.
At the stern, Woody and Buzz Lightyear will appear with oversized yellow crayons, writing the ship’s name in Toy Story-inspired block lettering. The exterior artwork and the Grand Hall both carry the ship’s theme of promise and possibility.
Castaway Club booking access will open in stages, beginning with Pearl members on October 12, followed by Platinum, Gold and Silver members on successive days. General-public reservations for the inaugural season open October 19, 2026.
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