The first Disney cruise ship built for Japan finally has a name. Oriental Land Co. revealed Wednesday morning in Tokyo, Tuesday evening in the United States, that the ship will be called the Disney Imagination, and that Ariel from The Little Mermaid will ride on its stern when it begins sailing from Tokyo in spring 2029.
The Disney Imagination will be the first ship in Disney Cruise Line Japan, a Disney-branded cruise business operated by Oriental Land, the company that owns and runs Tokyo Disney Resort under license from Disney. OLC chairperson and CEO Yumiko Takano announced the name at a ceremony at the Tokyo International Cruise Terminal attended by Natacha Rafalski, president of Disney Signature Experiences, and Tracy Wilson, who runs Disney Cruise Line operations. Mickey and Minnie, in captain’s hats and cruise jackets, joined the executives for photos.
Ariel Signs The Ship With A Dinglehopper
Every Disney ship carries a character on its stern, and this one gets Ariel, joined by Sebastian and friends from under the sea. In the artwork Disney released, she uses her dinglehopper to write out the ship’s name. Takano tied the choice to the name itself, saying Ariel’s belief in her own dreams matches the idea behind a ship called Imagination.
“Today’s announcement of the Disney Imagination marks a significant milestone in the continued expansion of Disney Cruise Line and in our long-standing relationship with Oriental Land Group,” Rafalski said in Disney’s announcement.
A Wish Class Ship Built For Japanese Families
Disney calls the Imagination the newest ship in the Wish class, so anyone who has sailed the Disney Wish will recognize the bones of it. Oriental Land has said the design starts from the Wish and adapts parts of it for Japanese guests. The ship is being built by Meyer Werft in Germany, will carry about 4,000 passengers in roughly 1,250 staterooms, and will sail mainly from the Tokyo International Cruise Terminal on short cruises of two to four nights.
Onboard, Disney is promising the usual mix: Broadway-style shows that exist only on Disney Cruise Line, character meetings, a range of dining, dedicated clubs for kids, tweens and teens, and adult-only spaces. Takano added that characters will wear costumes designed just for the cruise, and that guests will find a pool, a gym and a spa.
What Disney has not shared yet is the part travelers care about most. Details on onboard experiences and itineraries will come later, the company said. Oriental Land has already put standard fares at roughly 100,000 to 300,000 yen per person, which works out to about $650 to $2,000, and says it plans to open bookings about six months before the first sailing.
The Imagination arrives as Disney Cruise Line keeps adding ships of its own. Next up for the main fleet is the Disney Believe, which debuts in December 2027. The Imagination, by contrast, will be the first Disney cruise ship to sail from Japan.
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