Disney Cruise Line has always prided itself on creating floating storybooks where magic, imagination, and memories come to life. Over the years, each ship in the fleet has brought something new to the table—from the classic Disney Magic and Disney Wonder to the newer and larger Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, Disney Wish, and the spectacular Disney Treasure.
But towering over them all is the Disney Adventure. At a whopping 208,000 tons, she isn’t just Disney’s largest ship—she’s one of the biggest cruise ships in the world. Her history, however, is a bit different from her sister ships. Originally ordered as the Global Dream for another cruise line, she was left unfinished when the project stalled. Disney saw the opportunity, stepped in, and reimagined the ship into something distinctly “Disney.” This acquisition marked the company’s largest venture yet, transforming a partially built megaship into the newest chapter of Disney magic at sea.
After years of reworking the vessel to meet Disney’s vision, Disney Adventure finally left the MV Werften shipyard in Germany earlier this month for her very first sea trials. This milestone is one of the final steps in a ship’s journey, testing everything from propulsion to navigation systems to safety features. For fans it was a sign that the much-anticipated ship was nearly ready to welcome passengers.
But then came the news no one wanted to hear. Disney Cruise Line announced that the inaugural season of the Disney Adventure has been postponed until March 10, 2026.
Originally, the ship was set to debut in December 2025, sailing short cruises to nowhere from Singapore. Instead, every sailing scheduled between December 15, 2025, and March 9, 2026 has been cancelled.
Disney explained that while significant progress has been made, “unexpected delays in the shipbuilding process” mean more time is needed to bring every detail up to the company’s famously high standards.
Guest Compensation
For those who had booked one of the now-cancelled cruises, Disney is offering a generous compensation package:
- Full refund of all amounts paid.
- 50% discount on a future voyage fare, which must be used by March 31, 2026, for sailings departing on or before March 31, 2027.
- Guests booked on the original inaugural sailing will automatically be moved to the new inaugural voyage in March 2026, at a reduced fare.
It’s a reminder that even in the world of pixie dust and magic, shipbuilding is a massive undertaking—especially when reimagining a vessel originally designed for another cruise line.