Disney Cruise Line 's newest ship departed Wismar, Germany, on the afternoon of September 1st for sea trials. It marks several milestones, becoming the third cruise line to surpass 200,000 gross tons, and signifying the completion of construction in Wismar.
The departure of the Disney Adventure was delayed, initially scheduled for Saturday, then postponed to Sunday, and finally to Monday. According to the German news outlet NDR, there were concerns about the low water level in Wismar Bay and the winds, due to the ship's size and height, which reaches almost 70 meters (230 feet).
The ship sailed with the port closed to all other maritime traffic. A flotilla of tugboats and harbor vessels assisted the gigantic 342-meter (1,122-foot) vessel, which had been docked at the outfitting pier since April. It moved slowly forward and then turned with the help of the tugboats and its bow thrusters.
Due to low water levels, the ship will make a stop in Mukran, Germany, on the island of Rügen, to refill its freshwater tanks and load supplies before heading to the North Sea for sea trials. It will then continue to Bremerhaven for final outfitting and is scheduled to be delivered to Disney Cruise Line toward the end of the month.
With a gross tonnage of 206,500, the Disney Adventure is part of the emerging group of cruise ships that exceed the 200,000 GT mark. Disney acquired the ship after the bankruptcy of MV Werften and contracted Meyer Werft to complete construction at the Wismar shipyard, which was subsequently sold to TKMS for military shipbuilding.
Construction of the ship began in 2018 for Dream Cruises, owned by Genting Hong Kong, under the name Global One and later Global Dream. Designed for the Asian market, it was intended to accommodate approximately 9,500 passengers and over 2,000 crew members. Disney redesigned the ship to align with its style and experiences. Passenger capacity is now estimated at around 6,700 with 2,300 crew members.
Some areas of the ship were remodeled and the decor was updated to reflect the Disney style. Some features of the original design, such as an onboard roller coaster, have been retained. Disney plans to operate the ship on short cruises from Singapore year-round, starting in mid-December.
This is part of a broader expansion for the cruise line. Later this year, the company will also add a cruise ship to its U.S. operations, the Disney Destiny, which was recently launched at Meyer's shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. Construction has already begun on another ship there, and Disney has ordered three more, also from Meyer. In addition, the operator of Tokyo Disney Resort has ordered its first cruise ship.
Disney launched its cruise line in 1998 with the Disney Magic. Today, the company operates six ships.
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