New Disney Cruise Line ships that should be built

[Cond1108]

Well I already went on the Dream with my family and I thought this would be a good thread to express what you think Disney Cruise Lines next ship should look like, what amenities it had, improvements it would have, etc. share your ideas below. Who knows, maybe DCL will read this?!?!?

 

[deanimal]

I'd like to see some smaller ships; more classic design, that could do more exotic itineraries and go into smaller ports. Most of the ships like that are more adult geared and not suited for families. The amenities would have to be scaled back a bit, but they could create a more boutique-but-still-family-friendly vibe. Maybe a ship like this could do Asia, Eastern med, Baltics, or even just the smaller, more out of the way Caribbean islands.

 

[EDH Family]

Like the Oasis or Allue...

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Well I already went on the Dream with my family and I thought this would be a good thread to express what you think Disney Cruise Lines next ship should look like, what amenities it had, improvements it would have, etc. share your ideas below. Who knows, maybe DCL will read this?!?!?

I agree with PP about a smaller ship able to cruise around the world (many different ports). I'd also like to see the adult pool area not have an elevator in the middle of it. Having that elevator just causes problems with kids running through the adult area.

 

[kcashner]

Until they are doing better at filling the current ships, I don't see them building more.

Adult areas that are truly adult only--not walkways for kids, not "OK as long as I don't get caught," not "OK to come in to talk to my mom for a few minutes.

I know...with the design of the new ships, the walkway issue is hard to avoid. However, they have managed to build kid spaces and keep them "adult free."

And I agree--smaller and more new, exciting ports.

 

[Rogillio]

Until they are doing better at filling the current ships, I don't see them building more.

Adult areas that are truly adult only--not walkways for kids, not "OK as long as I don't get caught," not "OK to come in to talk to my mom for a few minutes.

I know...with the design of the new ships, the walkway issue is hard to avoid. However, they have managed to build kid spaces and keep them "adult free."

And I agree--smaller and more new, exciting ports.

I'm not sure a 'full ship' is the best metric to judge profitability. Based on the prices, the ships are full during peak sailings and holidays and even spring break. If you can command premium prices during the peak sailing months, I'm not sure you have to sail full the rest of the year.

Disney, like most corporations, is not likely to allow proprietary data about cruise line profits be available to the public. So any speculation about future growth or lack thereof is pure speculation.

As far as preference of ship, I too agree that smaller is the way to go....but that seems not to be the trend in the cruise industry. Evidently bigger is better and more profitable.

 

[bceagle76]

I agree that I would to see a new classic ship. A Wonder updated.
Improve buffet area but not have the people had the back of the ship(where I was) have to walk thru to get to pool areas.
I think upodating of bar area would be nice make them bigger especially for shows.

 

[bitlerzx4]

my boys would say a wave pool.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

my boys would say a wave pool.

Like this?

 

[Meghatron]

Like this?

LOL exactly. All ships already have wave pools.

 

[Kim&Chris]

I'd love to see smaller ships also. To me, the Wonder & Magic are just the right size, and they definitely got the pool layout correct on these ships.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I'd love to see smaller ships also. To me, the Wonder & Magic are just the right size, and they definitely got the pool layout correct on these ships.

Well, sort of. The adult area still has an elevator in it, so while kids do go through, it's just not as noticiable when they do.

The adult pool area on the Wonder & Magic is basically set up with the pool in the center, a couple of rows of lounge chairs and a railing around that area. The walkway area through there is behind the railing (toward the port and starboard sides, then a row of table on the outside. While on the Dream & Fantasy the walkway area from the elevator toward the aft is beside the pool, so the kids going through are doing so right in the middle of the area.

I agree the pools should be split up, putting both Mickey & Goofy pools in the same area, is extremely noisy and chaotic on occasion, from what I read.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Oh, thought of something else, having the queen bed able to split into twins is really a nicer option for those cruisers who can't/won't share a bed. On the Dream class ships, if 2 unrelated adults want to share a room, one has to sleep on the sofa bed. Not a nice option, IMO, if both are paying the same for the cruise, both should have real beds.

 

[Cond1108]

LOL exactly. All ships already have wave pools.

Also on the Dream and Fantasy, the family deck area on deck 13 is kinda a waste of space! I was walking up there, and all there was were a few adults taking pics and laying out, they could maybe put a adult only area up there or another pool, or even a wave pool LOL. But the problem is that the concierge rooms and lounge and extra spa rooms are all underneath so it can't be an under deck pool.

 

[Rogillio]

I'd love to see smaller ships also. To me, the Wonder & Magic are just the right size, and they definitely got the pool layout correct on these ships.

I love the size of the Magic....but I really cannot tell a difference with the Dream.

I would think the overhead costs of fuel and basic ship operation for 4k guest is about the same as it is for 2k guests. The hotel staff is obviously bigger but I doubt it would be 2x the staff needed for 2x the people.

Point being, looking at the ships that have come out in recent years, it would seem that the bigger the ship, the more profitable. So in order to stay competitive, I don't think any new ships will be smaller. But that's just my opinion and I have no special insight into cruise line marketing.

 

[mickeyfan1]

Having heard Karl Holtz say there is no new build in the plans, I think you will be waiting a long time before you see another new DCL sip or ships. DCL is very conservative when ot comes to new builds.

 

[Rogillio]

Having heard Karl Holtz say there is no new build in the plans, I think you will be waiting a long time before you see another new DCL sip or ships. DCL is very conservative when ot comes to new builds.

Disney also has the "paint Main Street every day" philosophy of keeping things new. The Magic and Wonder aren't getting any younger. I can actually see DCL replacing older ships before expanding the fleet. But again, what any corporation is planning is a propietary secret and will not be known to the general public until Disney wants the public to know.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

I love the size of the Magic....but I really cannot tell a difference with the Dream.

I would think the overhead costs of fuel and basic ship operation for 4k guest is about the same as it is for 2k guests. The hotel staff is obviously bigger but I doubt it would be 2x the staff needed for 2x the people.

Point being, looking at the ships that have come out in recent years, it would seem that the bigger the ship, the more profitable. So in order to stay competitive, I don't think any new ships will be smaller. But that's just my opinion and I have no special insight into cruise line marketing.

I do agree the bigger the ship the less operating cost per passinger. However due to their size they can cost more to maintain..(talking Oasis size here) IE.........their are a very limited number of yards available for dry docking....they can charge what they want and limited ports to visit

What I have read and seen the larger ship seems indeed to have a following, but are also about 300 mil more to biuld. The that following seems to have reached it limit as I here more and more people talking about they are just TO BIG.

Just MHO, but I think the Oasis sized vessel have reached the limit in size and except for the (3??) new ones on order or about to be, will be the end of the mega ships for awhile


The smaller verssel. IE classic are as you pointed out more to operate, per passigner, but they also seem to have a very loyal following.

To each their own!


I dont think DCL is having great problem with filling the ship now anymore then any other line. Look at Carnival,they are almost giving away cruises on many if not all thier routes and vessels.

What hurt DCL recently the most was the Mexican Rivera terrorism problem, resulting in 4 vessels on the the east and gulf coasts, that is creating the overcapcity problem

IMHO...I think you will see the next DCL class, +\- 100,000 tons range and still in the theming of the grat liners, to have the best of both the Dream and magic classes. Guessing here but I would expect to see rumors and rumblings in 2 to 3 years, a contract siginng in 4 to 5 and the first ship in 6 to 7 years.

With all repect to the pp and the comment made by Holz...............I never beleive to much from the Disney excutives....they are going to tell you what they what you to hear and in terms of *no new biuld planned.......is that..........next year?......3 years..or longer??. They have contract option for 2 new Dreams (easily and qiuckly these plans could be upgraded) and who knows if a qiuet super secret DCL team is putting together other plans.

AKK

 

[horizons1983]

I'm not sure a 'full ship' is the best metric to judge profitability. Based on the prices, the ships are full during peak sailings and holidays and even spring break. If you can command premium prices during the peak sailing months, I'm not sure you have to sail full the rest of the year.

Disney, like most corporations, is not likely to allow proprietary data about cruise line profits be available to the public. So any speculation about future growth or lack thereof is pure speculation.

As far as preference of ship, I too agree that smaller is the way to go....but that seems not to be the trend in the cruise industry. Evidently bigger is better and more profitable.

I agree with you...profitability notwithstanding I think it's more about where they want ships sailing from? The potential of sailings from China & Japan have got to be tempting them to build more ships.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

I agree with you...profitability notwithstanding I think it's more about where they want ships sailing from? The potential of sailings from China & Japan have got to be tempting them to build more ships.

Agreeed, or they wait until the Magic and Wonder are a bit older, 2 replacement vessel are coming along and send the classics to the far east and Aussie lands!

AKK