I had heard a rumor that Disney was planning to build not one but two new cruise ships. Has anyone else heard this or any other rumors about the DCL?
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Disney Cruise Line
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CTXRover
Well-Known Member
I was on DCL at the end of June and Marty Sklar was onboard and did a few presentations. It was cool to meet him in person and see his presentations, but the question he probably got the most was "are you going to build a new ship".
The simple answer? Yes. The plans are done and they are ready to build. Unfortunately, from the time they decided to build another ship and when they had the plans finalized the exhange rate with the Euro skyrocketed. Basically, the new ship would cost about $100 million more now than when they decided to go ahead with it. So for the time being, the plans are on hold until the exchange rate comes back down a bit more. Its not Disney being cheap, its Disney being smart and getting the most for their money. The rate will come down, hopefully sooner than later.
I asked him about the design of the new ship, and although he didn't let much out of the bag, he did say the ship will be of similar design as the Magic and Wonder. It sounds like it will be a little bigger, but not much because they still want to be able to take it through the Panama Canal, keep that sleek look and not just add more decks. According to him, most other new ships being built are getting bigger by just adding more decks and the ships are now resembling "big boxes" according to him. Disney wants to keep that classic oceanliner look. He said there will be some other differences in layout and offerings inside the ship that will address the suggestions, complaints, and what they have learned from cruising with the Magic and Wonder.
At this time, it sounds like only one new ship for sure, but there was also A LOT of talk among the crew, especially the future cruise planner, about the demand to expand. There are serious considerations to cruises in Alaska, the Mediterranean and even cruises to and from Hawaii. Nothing is set in stone, or if a new ship would be used to fill these potential itineraries, but there is definitely talk.
One thing I can say for sure is that something "big" regarding a new itinerary is being discussed for summer 2007.
Some big changes to the Magic are also on the way when it goes into dry dock this fall. The fitness center will be expanded, I believe the Spa is being moved, another children's area is being added to a former convention center located on the lower decks complete with a simulator for "junior captains" to dock the ship and also a movie screen will be placed somewhere on the top deck to allow for "movies under the stars" nights.
The simple answer? Yes. The plans are done and they are ready to build. Unfortunately, from the time they decided to build another ship and when they had the plans finalized the exhange rate with the Euro skyrocketed. Basically, the new ship would cost about $100 million more now than when they decided to go ahead with it. So for the time being, the plans are on hold until the exchange rate comes back down a bit more. Its not Disney being cheap, its Disney being smart and getting the most for their money. The rate will come down, hopefully sooner than later.
I asked him about the design of the new ship, and although he didn't let much out of the bag, he did say the ship will be of similar design as the Magic and Wonder. It sounds like it will be a little bigger, but not much because they still want to be able to take it through the Panama Canal, keep that sleek look and not just add more decks. According to him, most other new ships being built are getting bigger by just adding more decks and the ships are now resembling "big boxes" according to him. Disney wants to keep that classic oceanliner look. He said there will be some other differences in layout and offerings inside the ship that will address the suggestions, complaints, and what they have learned from cruising with the Magic and Wonder.
At this time, it sounds like only one new ship for sure, but there was also A LOT of talk among the crew, especially the future cruise planner, about the demand to expand. There are serious considerations to cruises in Alaska, the Mediterranean and even cruises to and from Hawaii. Nothing is set in stone, or if a new ship would be used to fill these potential itineraries, but there is definitely talk.
One thing I can say for sure is that something "big" regarding a new itinerary is being discussed for summer 2007.
Some big changes to the Magic are also on the way when it goes into dry dock this fall. The fitness center will be expanded, I believe the Spa is being moved, another children's area is being added to a former convention center located on the lower decks complete with a simulator for "junior captains" to dock the ship and also a movie screen will be placed somewhere on the top deck to allow for "movies under the stars" nights.
MagicalMonorail
New Member
Thrawn said:
Well Fantasy would be a good name, but there is already a Carnival ship called Fantasy. How about Dreamer or Dreams or something?
tracyandalex
Well-Known Member
we plan on taking one of the disney cruises in 2008, so hopefully there will be something new for us. can't wait to see. thanks for the update!!!
tracy
tracy
whizGoofy
New Member
tracyandalex said:
While I was on the Wonder on May 2005 we watched a video on how the Wonder and Magic were made and those two each took 4 years to fully complete. That is from the moment they start building to the moment they are ready to set sail. However the video that we watched said that it can depend upon if it is made in all one piece or 2 pieces. The magic was all one solid piece and the wonder was 2.
I would think that by 2008 it would not be ready to sail yet.
I will tell you however that the Wonder is great...We have already planned our next cruise!!
peter11435
Well-Known Member
Disney Wishes sounds good. I have also heard talk of the "Disney Dreams" and the "Disney Legacy."Thrawn said:
I heard that one of them was going be named the Disney Eisner.... :lookaroun
ArielBelle
Member
Thrawn said:
There is already a Carnival Imagination...but I like Wishes a lot. How cool would it be to have a mini Wishes show on-board. Just not very safe when you are a passenger ON the barge :hammer:
But I can dream...
1stStarIC2nite
Active Member
The Disney Wonder is the ship that does the 3/4 night cruises, correct? Haha..I always get them confused. Now, does anyone know if it received the changes yet? I believe it included moving Common Grounds to the skybox, then ESPN to the dueling pianos place, and the former CC now an aldult lounge. Just wondering because we're looking at going on another cruise next summer :wave: 
stuart
Well-Known Member
Well they have had pyro set off from the top deck before so dont see why they cudnt do a mini wishes, and if they did it wud be really cool.
What would be cool would be if ships were allowed to stay a little longer at Castaway Cay they could have a 'farewell fireworks show' that you would watch as you left on the way home with fireworks going off from allover the island. It certainly would make a nice finale and finish off to the cruise. To get the proper 'farewell' effect it would be best having the show as the ship left, however it could work with it docked.
Yes i know its very unlikely as the ships leave before its dark and also for logistics as it would be hard to have the pyro barges and launchers on island and have pyro crew there and also gettin the fireworks there but it is still a nice thing to dream about lol.
What would be cool would be if ships were allowed to stay a little longer at Castaway Cay they could have a 'farewell fireworks show' that you would watch as you left on the way home with fireworks going off from allover the island. It certainly would make a nice finale and finish off to the cruise. To get the proper 'farewell' effect it would be best having the show as the ship left, however it could work with it docked.
Yes i know its very unlikely as the ships leave before its dark and also for logistics as it would be hard to have the pyro barges and launchers on island and have pyro crew there and also gettin the fireworks there but it is still a nice thing to dream about lol.
vacationmadness
Member
stuart said:
If you order the DCL vacation planning DVD, there are some special features on it. One of them is a "Making of the Disney Magic" segment. It was pretty cool to see how they built the ship in two halves and floated them together.
Two names that I heard sugessted werre the Disney Dream and the Disney Destiny. I like the Dream myself.
Mike
How about Disney Celebration for the name of the new ship?
ThreeCircles
Member
I just had to post here and say that in just 20 days I'll be on the Disney Magic for TWO WEEKS as she sails from California through the Panama Canal back to her home port in Florida!!! :sohappy:
OK... Back to the discussion!
OK... Back to the discussion!
stuart
Well-Known Member
ThreeCircles said:
No, i really dont think you *HAD* to post to tell us all that and rub it in! Quite frankly its bad enough you rub it in by making the above post but really putting 'two weeks' in caps was uncalled for.
Ill know grudginly say have a great time as im sure u will
CTXRover
Well-Known Member
1stStarIC2nite said:The Disney Wonder is the ship that does the 3/4 night cruises, correct? Haha..I always get them confused. Now, does anyone know if it received the changes yet? I believe it included moving Common Grounds to the skybox, then ESPN to the dueling pianos place, and the former CC now an aldult lounge. Just wondering because we're looking at going on another cruise next summer :wave:
Yes, both the Magic and and Wonder have received these changes already. The teen lounge, "Aloft", onboard the Wonder is now located in the faux funnel where the old ESPN Skybox used to be. "Dueling Pianos" on the Wonder has now been replaced with the sportsbar "Diversions". The old teen bar is now an adult only small lounge called Cove Cafe.
Similar changes were made onboard the Magic several years ago. The only difference is that the teen lounge is called The Stack.