Disney Believe reached its keel-laying milestone on October 5, 2026, at Meyer Werft’s shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. The ceremony marks progress in the ship’s construction—not its launch or completion. Disney says the first gigablock floated out in mid-September, while work on a second was underway at the time of the ceremony.
What happened at the keel-laying ceremony?
Disney’s ship log dates the ceremony to October 5, 2026, at Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany. A specially minted coin depicting Tinker Bell was temporarily placed beneath the keel as part of the ceremony. Disney describes this as a longstanding maritime custom; its account attributes the practice to ancient Greece and Rome, but does not provide historical documentation for that origin. Disney’s October 6 ship-log update provides the ceremony details.
What does keel laying mean for construction?
Disney describes the keel as the structural center beneath the ship, running from bow to stern. The keel-laying ceremony is a construction milestone, not a launch: Disney’s account says the coin was temporarily placed under the keel, while the ship’s build continued in sections called gigablocks.
Gigablock progress
According to Disney, the first gigablock floated out in mid-September 2026, and construction of the second was underway by the October 5 milestone. The update does not say the ship was complete or ready to sail.
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What is known about Disney Believe’s schedule and place in the fleet?
Disney and shipbuilder Meyer Werft identify Disney Believe as the fourth ship in the Wish class. Meyer Werft says delivery is planned for 2027, while Disney describes the ship as expected in 2027. These are plans and expectations, not a guaranteed delivery date. See Meyer Werft’s Disney Believe page for the shipyard’s description.
Who is the opening cruise director?
Disney announced Trent Hitchcock as Disney Believe’s opening cruise director. In the October 6, 2026 update, Hitchcock said: “Bringing a new ship to life is a special time and being the opening cruise director to close the Wish class is an honor and a privilege.” His comment concerns the appointment, rather than the keel-laying ceremony.
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