New Itinerary with New Ship?

[TDF]

Don’t get to excited DCL hasn’t announced any new ship yet but there are suppose to be 2 more Dream class ships coming out. I believe DCL has said they will make 2 more but not announcement has been made yet. Now if DCL did announce this new cruise ship where do you think the current ships would go?

I think the following:
Disney Magic:
Fall/ Winter: Galveston/ Miami
Spring/ Summer: Europe/ New York (Maybe)

Disney Wonder:
Fall/ Winter: Galveston/ Miami/ California (Wouldn’t be surprised)
Spring/ Summer: Alaska

Disney Dream:
Year Round Bahamas.

Disney Fantasy:
Eastern/ Western Caribbean.

New Ship:
Fall/ Winter: Bahamas with Disney Dream.
Spring/ Summer: New York (Maybe)/ Europe (Northern?)

your thoughts?

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Actually, I think *if* DCL comes out with more ships they will sell the classic ships off. Also, not sure any new ships would be as large as the Dream class. The reason being, the smaller more intimate size of the classics has a strong appeal for a miriad of reasons. If they eliminated the older ships they'd need to bring something a bit more in-keeping with the small ship experience. Imagine if you will a smaller ship with all the updated bells-n-whistles. It'd be a very nice thing, indeed. I'd be willing to pay a little extra for that.

 

[TDF]

Although I would love a smaller ship with upgraded bells and whistles talking from a cruise line point of view bigger is better. It seems there is a race to make bigger ships. If anything the new ships will be bigger or at least the size as the dream class. I wouldn’t be surprised if you see less rooms though and more public areas such as bowling alley’s, more slides, rope course, bigger mini-golf course, etc… to keep up with other ships. One big thing Carnival is pulling me for is the rope courses they are adding on the ship. I want to do one so bad!
- Justin

EDIT: Plus I think they have an agreement with the company that build the Dream and Fantasy so it would most likely be around the same size. If they where to get rid of the Wonder and Magic I could just see them being the Dream size with still the same destinations. I do however think variety in size is needed for a cruise line to be successful. For example I don’t think Alaska could handle a Dream sized ship so Alaska wouldn’t be possible without the Magic sized ship.

 

[Disneyfalcon]

Sadly, I don't think we're going to see any new ships anytime soon. Unless as Kelly said, they'll replace the classics which is a possibility.

I would love to have a more regular ship in New York and Europe, and I'd like one to go back to the West Coast permanently. If Disney is going to keep sailing out of Miami, I want to see some Southern Caribbean itineraries too.

 

[TDF]

Sadly, I don't think we're going to see any new ships anytime soon. Unless as Kelly said, they'll replace the classics which is a possibility.

I would love to have a more regular ship in New York and Europe, and I'd like one to go back to the East Coast permanently. If Disney is going to keep sailing out of Miami, I want to see some Southern Caribbean itineraries too.

I think you mean West Coast right? I could definitely see the wonder staying on the West Coast premaritally if there is a new ship announced. Wonder would do Hawaii, Mexican Riviera, Alaska. Magic would do Galveston, Miami and Europe, Dream would do bahamas, Fantasy Eastern/ Western Caribbean, New Ship would either do bahamas M-F, F-M or possibly Southern Caribbean out of San Juan? Maybe even NY in summer.

 

[Disneyfalcon]

I think you mean West Coast right? I could definitely see the wonder staying on the West Coast premaritally if there is a new ship announced. Wonder would do Hawaii, Mexican Riviera, Alaska. Magic would do Galveston, Miami and Europe, Dream would do bahamas, Fantasy Eastern/ Western Caribbean, New Ship would either do bahamas M-F, F-M or possibly Southern Caribbean out of San Juan? Maybe even NY in summer.

Lol! Yes! West Coast. I have to go fix that...

The problem with the West Coast, Galveston, and Miami, is they haven't sold well. At all.

 

[Disneyfalcon]

And to add, I think they could increase bookings by offering some shorter cruises on the West Coast, and shaking up those Miami itineraries.

Galveston has sold like hotcakes since the Kids Sail Free was offered.

 

[TDF]

I think the biggest issue is that people really don’t think about Disney with Galveston and Miami. I could see 4/3 night cruises out of California to Ensenada and even Catalina Island. Miami would do excellent with 12 night Southern Caribbean cruises. Issue is it’s to long, people I think want shorter cruises. What if they did 5 night Bahamas Cruises with double CC?
- Justin

 

[ChuckElias]

talking from a cruise line point of view bigger is better.

As evidenced by the fact that RCCL just ordered a 3rd Oasis class ship: http://www.travelagewest.com/Travel/Cruise/Info/Royal-Caribbean-Orders-Third-Oasis-Class-Ship/

 

[MarkTwain]

One advantage to smaller ships that I'm sure Disney likes is that they get can get in and out of smaller ports much easier than the mega-ships. That's especially important with the Alaskan and European itineraries Disney likes to use their smaller ships for, which often involve docking at some pretty small towns. So I'm betting that's going to be one incentive Disney will have for ordering another round of smaller ships if they ever feel like replacing the Magic and Wonder.

That said, I wouldn't count on any new ships for the time being. Disney seems to have a hard enough time finding a use for all 4 of their ships right now. Personally, I can't wait to see Disney go back to the original plan and keep the Wonder on the west coast and the Magic in Europe. Sadly, that might be a while with the Mexican drug wars still raging and the European economy still in turmoil.

EDIT: And I LOVE the idea of a smaller ship sailing out of San Juan! I don't know why they haven't done that yet.

 

[ChuckElias]

That's especially important with the Alaskan and European itineraries Disney likes to use their smaller ships for, which often involve docking at some pretty small towns.

Here's one of the "small" ships docked in Skagway, Alaska

 

[Disneyfalcon]

Here's one of the "small" ships docked in Skagway, Alaska

Lol! I have that picture!

 

[sweetpee_1993]

When is the Panama Canal expansion due to complete? The bigger ships can't pass the current canal. The canal completion could also dictate ship size.

In my lifetime I hope to pass the Panama Canal and the Suez (if that ever becomes secure). I also hope sail across the euator and the international date line. Why? Because my daddy did it. I want to, too.

 

[MaryJaneP]

Okay, my vote is for 2 new ships, one permanently doing West Coast and Hawaii. The other in Asia and Australia. The classics can do Alaska and, dare I say it, Bermuda. Dream/Fantasy can continue current arrangements.

 

[BenSmith]

Bigger is better in this industry, My father has worked in it for years. The good thing for Disney though, they can make their ships bigger without going crazy. I have had experiences on both big and Small ships. From the relatively small Disney Magic to the Oasis of the seas(Inaugural!). Both are good, but I prefer bigger. Why? More stuff to do. Cruises are about living in a world with no stress and having your every need taken care of for you. On the Oasis and Epic, I was trying new stuff on the last night of sailing,Heck I even had Breakfast in a new place on departure day. However, on the Magic, I ran out of new stuff by day 2 or 3. Disney can defiantly jump up to a larger ship class, I believe they have the justification to handle an Epic Class ship. But only time will tell..

 

[TDF]

Right now I believe it is almost like an "arms race" but with cruise ships. All the companies want to claim they have the biggest ship. I think if Disney was to come out with another ship it would be bigger and obviously based in Orlando. I could definitly see the Fantasy/ Dream sailing somewhere else.

 

[Disneyfalcon]

I definitely agree if Disney builds new ships, they'll take over the Port Canaveral routes. It's Disney's way of enticing people back to routes they've done before.

 

[TDF]

I feel bad for the Dream it is being underused for what it could do. They should keep the Dream/ Fantasy on Eastern/ Western Caribbean cruises (sorta like what RCL Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas do) and have the Magic/Wonder or new ship do bahamas M-F and F-M.
- Justin

 

[Disneyfalcon]

I feel bad for the Dream it is being underused for what it could do. They should keep the Dream/ Fantasy on Eastern/ Western Caribbean cruises (sorta like what RCL Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas do) and have the Magic/Wonder or new ship do bahamas M-F and F-M.
- Justin

True. But they would definitely need some new ships!

 

[ncstate7991]

I would be shocked if Disney built a ship smaller than the Dream/Fantasy. There have been some reasons listed above for larger ships, but the main reason is $$$$. Cruises are in the business to turn a profit, and they build larger ships because of the economies of scale (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economies_of_scale). When two Dream/Fantasy sized ships can carry the same number of passengers as three Magic/Wonder ships, two ships are more efficient. You have lower payroll/passenger costs (ie two captains vs three captains), lower fuel costs, you are only producing two shows as opposed to three shows, the list goes on and on.