The Global Dream ship was saved from the scrapyard by Disney after it was put up for auction following the bankruptcy of its previous owner, Genting Hong Kong in 2023
A colossal cruise ship, valued at £900 million and rescued from the scrapyard before its maiden voyage is about to make its debut. For more than two years, the Daily Star has been tracking the story of the Global Dream ship, which was languishing in a German shipyard alongside its sibling vessel, Global Dream II.
The latter had its fixtures and engines stripped and sold off, as it had already been deemed not worth selling intact. However, the Global Dream ship was still holding on, with company executives open to bids over the coming months.
Constructed by MV Wefrten, it boasts more passenger capacity than any other cruise ship, and was originally owned by Genting Hong Kong, they declared bankruptcy earlier this year.
Disney eventually snapped up the ship to augment its Disney Cruise line. Initially, the cost was estimated to be around £1.4 billion after accounting for repair work and redecoration.
However, it later emerged that the mammoth ship was acquired for a staggeringly low price of just £40 million. Now, after a huge the rebranding process, the ship is just weeks away from setting sail.
The refurbishment – which involved more than just a few pots of paint – was being carried out at the German yard where the ship was originally built, much to the relief of the 380 staff members who feared unemployment when the Genting company went under.
German publication Ostsee Zeitung succeeded in capturing images of the vessel, alongside AP, after the massive shipyard doors were thrown open, revealing the now dark-blue facade of the 342-metre-long ship to onlookers in early 2024.
It’s believed the doors were opened to ventilate the hall, as the substantial quantity of paint being applied generates enormous amounts of toxic vapours.
The vessel’s fresh identity remained under wraps at the time, but the Global Dream lettering and former red livery had been stripped away, sparking rumours about a potential rebrand . . . which later came true.
And now the ship is set to make its debut voyage, under the name Disney Adventure. Setting sail on a three-night journey to Singapore, it will also be doing four and five night trips.
The debut trip costs around £2k per person, with two guests minimum, and will depart on December 13 from Singapore.
Images released by Disney from inside the ship show . . . well, exactly what you would expect from Disney, as every room is themed towards a Disney classic, while yes, there is a huge gift shop (shock horror).
Disney states: “Sail away on a magical adventure as you explore seven imaginatively themed areas across the ship—each bursting with immersive experiences that bring the tales from Disney, Marvel and Pixar to life on a grand scale.
“Experience the magic of Disney with dazzling Broadway-style shows, upbeat deck parties, movie screenings, and unforgettable meet and greets with favorite pals from Disney, Pixar and Marvel.”
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