Disney Cruise Line christens fleet's newest arrival

Disney Cruise Line has held a naming ceremony for its newest ship, Disney Destiny, in Fort Lauderdale.

The third Wish Class vessel embarked on a three-night preview sailing on Monday, November 10 for media and trade partners, during which the naming ceremony took place.

The event included a drone and light show around the heroes and villains-themed ship displaying characters from Disney’s animated films, accompanied by a live band performing songs from movie soundtracks.

Actor Susan Egan, known for voicing Megara in Disney’s animated film Hercules, was revealed as godmother during the ceremony.

Disney Signature Experiences president Joe Schott called the new ship “an extraordinary entry into our growing fleet”, hailing it as “the next chapter in the Disney Cruise Line story”.

He said: “Tonight marks a milestone that is years in the making: the christening of our newest ship, Disney Destiny.

“The Disney Cruise Line team, along with our Disney Imagineers, have invested years of expertise, creativity and dedication into this beautiful ship and they have created something truly spectacular.”

He added: “Disney Destiny’s heroes and villains theme celebrates the legendary characters who have inspired generations of fans to dream bigger and go the distance, while our mischievous villains add a little unexpected excitement, which all comes together for an unforgettable voyage for guests of all ages.

“For more than 100 years, Disney has entertained fans in new and innovative ways, connecting them with the stories they love, and Disney Cruise Line is a powerful part of that legacy.”

Meanwhile, the Walt Disney Company reported that Disney Cruise Line and Disneyland Paris helped boost summer quarter profits for its experiences arm. 

Overall operating profits for the theme parks, cruise line and consumer products division of the global entertainments giant rose by 13% year on year to a record of almost $1.9 billion in the three months to September 27 as revenues grew by 6% to $8.7 billion.

Full year operating income figure was up by $723 million to $10 billion as revenues grew by 6% to $36 billion.

Disney’s overall quarterly revenues were similar to the same period last year at $22.5 billion.

Pre-tax profits for the quarter more than doubled to $2 billion and increased to $12 billion for the financial year, against $7.6 billion in the previous 12 months.

The company said: “Operating income at our domestic parks and experiences increased compared to the prior-year quarter due to growth at Disney Cruise Line attributable to an increase in passenger cruise days, partially offset by higher fleet expansion costs, both reflecting the launch of the Disney Treasure in the first quarter of the current year.”

“International parks and experiences’ operating results increased compared to the prior-year quarter, primarily due to growth at Disneyland Paris.” 

The increase was attributable to higher attendances and guest spending offset by a rise in costs due to new offerings. 

Chief executive Robert Iger said: “Our strategy, coupled with our portfolio of complementary businesses and a strong balance sheet, enables us to continue investing in high-quality offerings for our consumers and increasing our returns to shareholders, and I’m pleased with our many achievements this fiscal year to position Disney for the future.”