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