Wismar after the discontinuation of the Disney Adventure: Economic concerns are increasing

Wismar after the discontinuation of the Disney Adventure: Economic concerns are increasing

Wismar is facing noticeable changes after the departure of the cruise ship “Disney Adventure” on September 1, 2025. This ship project was not only the largest ever built in the city, but also brought with it an enormous labor requirement. At peak times, up to 6,000 people worked on the “Disney Adventure,” which attracted many people, including numerous international workers. Local businesses, such as Larry's Grillimbiss, were able to benefit enormously from the rush of workers. But after the ship left, customer frequency in supermarkets and kiosks fell dramatically. Birgit Bibow, branch manager of a Netto supermarket, reports a noticeable calm and a decline in sales.

What does this mean for the city? Mayor Thomas Beyer is skeptical about the situation on the housing market and does not expect any significant relief. Many shipyard employees did not live in Wismar, but only rented holiday apartments. This led to high rental income for the owners. Sebastian Bauer from Bauer Immobilien Wismar confirms that there is an increasing number of cancellations for apartments that were rented to shipyard employees. An exceptional example from this time was an apartment in Wismar, which was traded with monthly rental costs of up to 2,800 euros.

The end of a building story

The “Disney Adventure” itself had a turbulent construction period. The ship was built under the supervision of Meyer Werft in Wismar and, with a tonnage of 208,000 GT, is one of the largest ships in the world. The original start date for sea tests had to be postponed due to navigation concerns before it started its tests in the Bay of Wismar on the evening of September 1st after a long construction history. This was shaped by the collapse of Genting Hong Kong and the insolvency of the construction company MV Werften.

The next steps for the “Disney Adventure” take her to the North Sea, where the ship is scheduled to arrive in Bremerhaven on September 8th. But the ship not only brings joy to the operator Disney Cruise Line, but also causes intense discussions about the environmental impact of cruise ships. The “Disney Adventure” is the first ship of its kind to be powered by green methanol, which is intended to significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Despite this positive initiative, cruise ships are generally known for high CO2 emissions and their operating costs can only marginally support the local economy.

Tourism and local economy

The impact of cruise tourism on Wismar is mixed. While the ship is seen as a win from a tourism perspective, there are also fears that the holiday apartments the shipyard employees lived in have affected genuine tourists' access to accommodation and shops. While Sibylle Donath, Head of Tourism, is optimistic about the situation, operators like Sven Marquardt from “Larrys Grillimbiss” are faced with the challenge of possibly diversifying their business if customer frequency does not return.

Overall, it is clear that Wismar is facing new challenges. The departure of the shipyard workers could have a long-term impact on the local economy, even as the "Disney Adventure" looks forward to a new chapter in the North Sea. It remains to be seen how the city will develop in the aftermath of this important project.

The entire situation is influenced by many aspects, from economics to environmental awareness. It will be exciting to see how all of these elements will play out in the coming months and years.

Reported in this context Baltic Sea newspaper that the return to normality remains uncertain for many companies in Wismar Cruise Mapper provides important technical details about the ship itself, and Planet knowledge points out the challenges of cruise tourism.