and Japan’s Oriental Land Company unveiled plans on Tuesday to launch a new cruise ship that will set sail from Tokyo in 2029, adding a ninth vessel to the brand’s growing fleet.
The ship in Tokyo will have a maximum capacity of 4,000 passengers and is expected to bring in about 100 billion yen in annual sales within several years of launch, OLC said. Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Experiences, told Reuters in a recent interview that the ships provide the opportunity to bring themed entertainment to places not close to the company’s theme parks, such as Melbourne or Vancouver.“Forty percent of the people on those ships today will say, ‘The only reason I’m on a cruise ship today is because Disney’s here,’ which means we’re creating a market,” D’Amaro said.
The company’s stock tumbled in May after Chief Financial Officer Hugh Johnston warned about a “global moderation” in travel in the fiscal third quarter and other impacts, including higher wages and preopening expenses related to two of the new cruise ships and the new vacation island, Lookout Cay.