MUMBAI: The Walt Disney Company plans to expand its cruise business by adding two new ocean liners in 2011 and 2012. The company signed a letter of intent with Meyer Werft shipyard, based in Papenburg, Germany, to negotiate a contract.
This artist’s rendering pictures the two new 122,000-ton cruise liners alongside Disney’s existing 83,000-ton ships, the Disney Magic and the Disney Wonder.
This expansion will more than double the passenger capacity for Disney Cruise Line to meet the sustained demand for Disney’s family cruise vacations.
The new ship design will feature elegant detailed Disney scrollwork at the bow and evoke images of the glamour of the golden age of cruising, similar to the original Disney Cruise Line ships. Each ship will have 1,250 staterooms. Specific design plans and itineraries for the yet-unnamed ships are still in development and will be unveiled at a later date.
“Since our maiden voyage in 1998, Disney Cruise Line has been a huge success for our guests and for our shareholders alike. It has brought our unparalleled family vacation experience to the high seas, and has also generated high margins and double digit returns on invested capital. We’re excited to announce the expansion of our fleet, which is a logical next step in what is a real growth business for us,” said Walt Disney Company president Robert Iger.
“Focusing on families has been smart business for us. More than 95 per cent of Disney Cruise Line guests rate their cruise experience as excellent or very good. Families know they can trust us to provide a quality, immersive Disney experience. As a result, Disney Cruise Line continually sets sail with the highest load factors in the industry of nearly 150 per cent,” said Walt Disney Parks and Resorts chairman Jay Rasulo.
Similar to the original Disney Cruise Line ships, the new ships will be a modern interpretation of classic ocean liners of the 1930s. Disney Imagineers drew their inspiration from the original trans-Atlantic ships that featured a dramatic black hull with two funnels and porthole windows. The profile of the ships, with its gentle curves at the stern combined with sleek angles at the bow, are reminiscent of the art deco designs of the era. To add whimsy to the classic design, the Disney ships have the same exterior color palette as Mickey Mouse with black, white, red and yellow. The new ships will feature elegant, detailed Disney scrollwork at the bow and will evoke images of the glamour of the golden age of cruising.
Disney Cruise Line president Tom McAlpin added, “This is an exciting time for Disney Cruise Line, and we are looking forward to working with Meyer Werft to blend our innovation and creativity with their fine craftsmanship. Meyer Werft has a long tradition of building magnificent ships. We are confident that the result will be ships that take the immersive Disney family-focused cruise experience to an entirely new level.”
