Disney is taking its cruise brand to Japan under an agreement that will see the company that owns and operates Tokyo Disney Resort build and operate a Disney-branded cruise ship in the country, which is expected to set sail by early 2029.

Disney’s expansion in Japan is the latest evolution in an over 40-year relationship between Disney and Oriental Land Co., Ltd. (OLC).

“Disney Cruise Line has ambitious plans to bring family vacations and Disney storytelling to more guests around the world than ever before,” said Josh D’Amaro, chairman, Disney Experiences. “We are thrilled to continue the success of this expansion… to introduce another distinctly Disney vacation experience to families and fans in Japan.”

OLC will operate a new Disney cruise ship to be registered and based in Japan year-round. The ship will be constructed at Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, with designs created by Walt Disney Imagineering. A sister ship to the popular Disney Wish, it will feature many guest-favourite venues and experiences from that ship with select modifications specially designed with Japanese guests in mind.

More details about the maiden voyage, itineraries, and onboard experiences will be announced at a later date.

Since launching in 1998, Disney Cruise Line has introduced five ships – the Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy and Disney Wish – with three more ships expected by the end of 2025. The Disney Cruise Line fleet sails to destinations in The Bahamas, the Caribbean, Europe, Alaska, Mexico, Canada, Hawaii, the South Pacific, and Australia and New Zealand.

In Japan, Tokyo Disneyland opened in 1983 and Tokyo DisneySea, the first-ever ocean-themed Disney theme park in 2001. Tokyo Disney Resort includes hotels, a monorail, and a retail-dining-entertainment complex. More recently, in June 2024, Tokyo DisneySea’s eighth themed port, Fantasy Springs, opened, bringing further evolution to Tokyo Disney Resort.