Oriental Land Firm, house owners of Tokyo Disney Resort, introduced that they’ve reached an settlement to deliver a brand-new Disney Cruise Line ship to Japan as a part of an expanded license settlement between the 2 firms. This covers particulars from the bulletins by OLC and Disney, together with our commentary.
That is the newest evolution in an over 40-year relationship between Disney and OLC, which simply debuted the huge Fantasy Springs port-of-call at Tokyo DisneySea. The addition of a domestically primarily based Disney cruise ship will provide enjoyable and rest for Japanese Disney followers and guests from around the globe throughout voyages crammed with the unbelievable leisure, world-class eating and distinctive visitor service that set Disney cruises aside.
OLC will function a brand new Disney cruise ship to be registered and primarily based in Japan year-round. The ship can be constructed at Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, with imaginative designs created by Walt Disney Imagineering. A sister ship to the favored Disney Want, it’s going to function many guest-favorite venues and experiences from that ship with choose modifications specifically designed with Japanese visitors in thoughts. It’s anticipated to be roughly 140,000 gross tons and powered by liquefied pure fuel, with about 1,250 staterooms.
As a part of the Want-class, this new unnamed ship can be related in measurement and design because the Disney Treasure and Disney Future, changing into the 4th ship in that class. The Disney Journey, which was acquired by Disney when it was partially-completed, is in its personal class. This transfer will not be merely the Disney Journey being moved to Japan–Disney already signed a multi-year settlement for that ship to sail out of Singapore.
Oriental Land Firm’s new ship is scheduled to be delivered by 2029 or Japanese fiscal 12 months 2028. Primarily based on the license settlement concluded with Disney, building for shipbuilding will start from Japanese fiscal 12 months 2025. OLC signifies that its investing 330 billion yen on this new ship, which is roughly $2 billion USD.
“Disney Cruise Line has formidable plans to deliver household holidays and Disney storytelling to extra visitors around the globe than ever earlier than,” stated Josh D’Amaro, chairman, Disney Experiences. “We’re thrilled to proceed the success of this growth as we collaborate with Oriental Land Co. to introduce one other distinctly Disney trip expertise to households and followers in Japan.”
“I’m sincerely proud that Disney and Oriental Land will be capable of work collectively to create a world-class cruise enterprise in Japan,” stated Yumiko Takano, consultant director, chairperson and CEO, Oriental Land. “Oriental Land will use their knowhow from the theme park enterprise to proceed pushing boundaries and supply household leisure cruise experiences crammed with inspiration and shock.”
In line with OLC’s press launch, the brand new ship matches the corporate’s previously-announced targets for the 12 months 2030, with the target of contributing to Japanese society and attaining long run progress. As a part of this effort, plans had been being thought of for a brand new enterprise alternative.
OLC reached a choice to enter into the cruise enterprise in Japan, and has concluded a license settlement with the Disney Firm to deliver the magic of Disney cruises to the market. This resolution was primarily based on the potential progress of the cruise market in Japan, the expertise OLC has gained in its theme park and lodge operations, and its sturdy relationship with the Disney Firm which is able to function a terrific benefit for this enterprise alternative.
Extra particulars in regards to the maiden voyage, itineraries and onboard experiences can be introduced at a later date.
Turning to commentary, I can’t say I’m tremendous jazzed on this announcement–no less than, not from a purely egocentric perspective. We’re enormous followers of Tokyo Disney Resort and the best way Oriental Land Firm runs its parks. Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea are the 2 greatest theme parks on this planet. A variety of that’s the results of the rosters of the respective parks–however not all of it. A giant element is that they’re operated like Walt Disney World was within the Nineties.
After the success of Fantasy Springs, I hoped that OLC was about to embark on one other decade of growth, reimagining, and placemaking initiatives within the two current parks. One of many targets of their medium-term plan is, primarily, to make Tokyo Disneyland completely distinctive, and that endeavor is coming alongside properly. I’d additionally wish to see one other new port-of-call constructed on the growth pad beforehand introduced as being Frozen/Norway/Scandinavia.
All of this will nonetheless occur, and a few of it most likely will within the decade to come back. However that is about $2 billion much less that OLC must allocate to all of that, which is unlucky. Because of this no less than some theme park initiatives can be placed on the backburner, as OLC merely doesn’t have the assets to do all of it. On a optimistic word, no less than OLC is singularly targeted on this enterprise, and doesn’t have the distractions (or cash pits) of streaming companies, tv networks, and many others.
From my perspective, OLC persevering with to construct theme park initiatives is way more thrilling and attention-grabbing than the corporate attempting its hand at a cruise ship. For one factor, I believe there’s much less room for innovation or deviation from the method. The Want-class ships are what they’re, and whereas the thematic window-dressing can change, not practically to the identical diploma as theme parks, which current extra of a clean slate.
Furthermore, I additionally suppose that Disney Cruise Line additionally operates very equally to Walt Disney World of the Nineties, so OLC can’t probably deliver as a lot to the desk there. I believe the service can be even higher than DCL, nevertheless it gained’t be leaps and bounds higher as is the case with parks. That is going to be extra incremental, similar to the adjustments to the ship itself.
On the subject of the superlative service that American followers at all times rave about at Tokyo Disney Resort, a giant a part of this can be a product of Japanese tradition usually, and never merely a unique administration method by OLC. Omotenashi is the Japanese time period for this, which implies that service is trustworthy and unpretentious, from the underside of the center. That is the guideline for Japanese hospitality with nice consideration to element. You’ll find this gorgeous a lot anyplace in Japan (besides locations that don’t need international vacationers), and it’ll undoubtedly prolong to this new ship.
After all, I even have the self-awareness to acknowledge that that is all egocentric primarily based on my private preferences, and perceived strengths and weak point of each OLC and the Walt Disney Firm. Furthermore, American bloggers, as profitable of an viewers as we is perhaps, will not be the goal demo for a cruise ship primarily based in Japan. Given the variety of Japanese followers we all know who love Disney Cruise Line, that is most likely a savvy enterprise resolution on OLC’s half. We additionally know lots of Japanese followers who’re DVC house owners, so to finish on a optimistic word, no less than they aren’t losing the house or assets to construct a Disney Trip Membership resort in Japan.
Planning a visit to Tokyo Disney Resort? For complete recommendation, the very best place to start out is our Tokyo Disneyland & DisneySea Journey Planning Information! For extra specifics, our TDR Resort Rankings & Critiques web page covers lodging. Our Restaurant Critiques element the place to dine & snack. To economize on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Ideas for Saving Cash put up. Our What to Pack for Disney put up takes a singular take a look at intelligent objects to take. Venturing elsewhere in Japan? Seek the advice of our Final Information to Kyoto, Japan and Metropolis Information to Tokyo, Japan.
YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you consider a brand-new Disney Cruise Line ship coming to Japan? Want OLC had been investing this $2 billion within the parks, or do you suppose it’ll be attention-grabbing to see what OLC brings to the desk in relation to cruising? Agree or disagree with our assessments? Any questions we might help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even whenever you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
