Disney Cruise Line has acquired the partially completed ship Global Dream

The ex-Global Dream will be remodelled and imaginered to fit the Disney Cruise theming.

Disney Cruise Line has acquired the partially completed ship Global Dream, which was left unfinished following the failure of Genting Hong Kong, the former owner of Crystal Cruises.
The ship will be renamed with certain features reimagined under the Walt Disney brand and is expected to sail to new destinations in 2025 from the US.

“Our cruise ships give us the unique opportunity to bring Disney magic to fans no matter where they are, and the addition of this ship will make a Disney Cruise Line vacation accessible to more families than ever before,” said Josh D’Amaro, chair of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products.

The new ship will feature Disney experiences along with entertainment and dining options, and the exterior will be adorned in the Mickey Mouse-inspired colours of the fleet, complete with signature red funnels.

The 208,000-gross-tonne ship is expected to be among the first in the cruise industry to be powered by green methanol, one of the lowest-emission fuels available.

Disney expects the passenger capacity to be approximately 6,000 with around 2,300 crew members.

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

Here’s What Happened to the Former Crystal Cruises Fleet

Crystal Cruises’ ocean-going fleet has found new homes. Here’s the latest on the new destinations for Crystal’s ships:

Crystal Endeavor
Year Built: 2021
Capacity: 200 guests
Status: Sold to Silversea Cruises

Silversea Cruises acquired the former Crystal Endeavor earlier this month. Sold for $275 million, the 2021-built expedition vessel will be renamed Silver Endeavour before entering service for the ultra-luxury operator.  

Set to debut in time for the 2022-2023 season in Antarctica, the ship is expected to undergo a minor refit work that includes signage changes, the addition of Silversea’s livery and a few restaurant adjustments.

Crystal Serenity
Year Built: 2003
Capacity: 980 guests
Status: Sold to A&K Travel Group

In June, the Crystal Serenity was sold to the A&K Travel Group at auction for $103 million.

According to the new owners – who also bought the Crystal Cruises brand and other assets – the vessel will be subject to a major refit before resuming service in 2023.

Crystal Symphony
Year Built: 1995
Capacity: 848 guests
Status: Sold to A&K Travel Group

The Crystal Symphony was sold at a judicial auction in June. Like its fleet mate Crystal Serenity, it was bought by the A&K Travel Group, who bought the ship with a bid of $25 million for a 1995-built luxury vessel.

Before resuming service in 2023, the ship will also be subject to a major revitalization, the new owners revealed recently.  

Crystal Esprit
Year Built: 1989
Capacity: 48 guests
Status: Sold to Lindblad Expeditions   

Sold by Crystal Cruises in September 2021, the Crystal Esprit was acquired by Lindblad Expeditions.

Renamed National Geographic Islander II, the 48-guest mega-yacht will offer year-round expeditions to the Galapagos Islands. After a significant refit in Northern Europe, the former Esprit is set to launch service for its operator in August.

Crystal Bach, Crystal Mahler, Crystal Debussy and Crystal Ravel
Year Built: 2017 and 2018
Capacity: 106 guests each
Status: Pending

While all the former ocean-going Crystal ships have now met their fates, the company’s river fleet continues to sit in limbo.  

Built by the MV Werften between 2017 and 2018, the four Rhine-Class sister ships are currently laid up in the Netherlands.

Crystal Mozart
Year Built: 1987
Capacity: 154 guests
Status: Pending

Like its Rhine fleet mates, the Crystal Mozart is also waiting for a decision regarding its future. Rumours suggest the ship has been sold.

Currently docked in Austria, the vessel was built in 1987 and underwent a full revitalization before joining Crystal in 2016. As the biggest river ship in the fleet, it has the capacity for a total of 160 guests.  

Crystal Cruises Ships Arrested in Freeport

The Crystal Serenity and Symphony have docked in Freeport in the Bahamas where both ships have been arrested.

An announcement made to the crew aboard by the captain on the Symphony cited unpaid bills. 

The ship arrests will not impact crew movement, according to the announcement, which was obtained by Cruise Industry News.

“Crew sign-offs can still go as planned, and we are still in process of preparing those,” the announcement said.

In late January an arrest warrant was issued for the Crystal Symphony by a Miami-based judge with a fuel supplier claiming unpaid bills. The ship has not docked in the U.S. since.

There are no guests on board either ship as Crystal has wound down commercial operations for the time being as parent company Genting Hong Kong struggles with financial issues.