Mouse buys £900m cruise ship ahead of maiden voyage
A £900million mega cruise ship that was due to be scrapped ahead of its maiden voyage has found a famous new buyer and is set to sail in 2025.
Earlier this year, we revealed that the Global Dream ship was being built alongside her sister ship, the Global Dream II, at a German shipyard.
The latter was waiting for parts of its facilities, along with its engines, to be ripped up and sold, as it had previously been determined that selling it in full would not be profitable.
However, the Global Dream ship was still on hold, with executives awaiting offers in the coming months.
It was built by MV Wefrten and has the most passengers of any cruise ship.
Genting Hong Kong owned the ship, but it declared bankruptcy earlier this year.
The first Global Dream ship also sits unfinished at the same dock, but time is running out to find a buyer for the pair, as the shipyard won’t be manufacturing submarines until 2024.
It has just acquired the Walt Disney Company.
The actual cost has not yet been determined, although it is estimated to be around £1.4 billion after repair and refurbishment.
The artwork-adorned hull will be completely rebranded, with classic “hull art” of black and gold Disney Cruise designs and the famous Mickey Mouse logo prominently displayed.
Her engines will also be modified to use methanol as fuel, making her one of the first in the cruise industry to be “powered by green methanol” rather than diesel, as many currently are.
“Our cruise ships give us the unique opportunity to bring the magic of Disney to fans wherever they are, and the addition of this ship will make Disney Cruise Line vacations accessible to more families than ever before. “, Josh D’Amaro, president of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products said.
“The ship will be rebranded with certain aspects recreated under the world-renowned skill of the Walt Disney Imagineers,” said Yolanda Cade, vice president of communications and public affairs at Disney Signature Experiences.
“The new ship, which will be based outside of the United States, will offer innovative Disney experiences along with the dazzling entertainment, world-class dining and legendary customer service that sets Disney Cruise Line apart.”
“Construction will be completed at the former MV Werften shipyard in Wismar, Germany, under the direction of Meyer Werft, the Papenburg-based company that built the Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy and Disney Wish.”
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