New Disney ship?

[PrincessShmoo]

Hmmmmm...

Walt Disney World Update on Mouseplanet

New Disney Cruise rumors afloat
Discussing rumors of new port destinations, cruise itineraries and even ships is a popular pasttime among Disney Cruise Line fans, and it's a time-honored tradition to try to pry details from the ship's officers during onboard social events. Rumors of a fifth and sixth ship for the Disney Cruise Line have been circulating ever since the maiden voyage of the Disney Fantasy, when Bernard Meyer, president of the Meyer-Werft shipyards that built Disney's third and fourth ships, was overheard several times talking with DCL executives about changes that would be made "next time."

Disney is famously unwilling to discuss future plans for the cruise line before a public announcement is made, even off the record. (I once had a DCL publicist assure me that he knew absolutely nothing whatsoever about a rumored itinerary I asked about, only to hand me a press release about that exact topic the very next day. He maintains I didn't phrase my question properly. I made a mental note never to play poker with him.) Even so, rumors do have a way of slipping out in a company of several thousand people, and we've been hearing more and more chatter that Disney Cruise Line is about to make a "major announcement," likely involving the next generation of ships. Disney has a major press event scheduled at Walt Disney World in the coming weeks, which would be an ideal time and place for such an announcement.

We've also heard that senior managers were briefed last week about an upcoming major refurbishment of the Disney Magic, the first ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet. The Magic marks its 15th anniversary this June, and is spending the summer season offering Mediterranean cruises from Barcelona, Spain. At the end of that schedule, the Magic will undergo a six-week renovation before returning to Florida.

By Jeff Kober on Mon, 15 Apr 2013 03:42:08 -0700

Actually, my inside sources have not confirmed a sixth ship, but have confirmed a fifth ship, and that one is to be a much smaller ship that will allow Disney Cruise Line to charter smaller river itineraries like the Columbia or the Rhine. But it wouldn't surprise me that they would get a bigger bang for their investment to have two ships made, as it will reduce some of the overhead when shared.

http://www.mouseplanet.com/10319/Walt_Disney_World_Resort_Update

 

[CrawfordMomof2]

Interesting..... I wonder if new ships would change the pricing on cruises at all?

 

[Cats12]

Much smaller ships? I don't really think of Disney as the boutique / not mass produced kind of vacation...

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

In today's Walt Disney World Update on Mouseplanet they briefly talked about the fifth and sixth ship rumor. However... in the comments at the bottom was this comment by author Jeff Kober --

http://www.mouseplanet.com/10319/Wal..._Resort_Update

"By Jeff Kober on Mon, 15 Apr 2013 03:42:08 -0700
Actually, my inside sources have not confirmed a sixth ship, but have confirmed a fifth ship, and that one is to be a much smaller ship that will allow Disney Cruise Line to charter smaller river itineraries like the Columbia or the Rhine. But it wouldn't surprise me that they would get a bigger bang for their investment to have two ships made, as it will reduce some of the overhead when shared."

What does every one think?


AKK

 

[jdb in AZ]

River cruises are port-intensive so I think of the river boats as a floating hotel; mostly to eat sleep and change clothes instead of 24/7 entertainment. They sure wouldn't have room for an aquaduck on board.

Since DH and i are looking into a river cruise through europe, probably summer 2014, I'll be interested to see what DCL comes up with in the next few years. If the price is outrageously more expensive than the competition, thanks, but no thanks.

 

[mimmi]

That would be so great. A Disney River cruise in Europe, I vote for the Danube so I could see it pass every week .

I've always been under the impression that there are almost exclusively seinior people on river cruises, maybe this would be different with a Disney ship, I would totally book such a cruise.

 

[Silverfox97]

I've always been under the impression that there are almost exclusively seinior people on river cruises

They are. Two years ago a co-worker of mine turned 70 and her daughter (then 48 yrs old) took her on one to celebrate her bday. They went on AMA Waterways (they had a 2-for-1 deal) and it involved Hungary and some other counties. They went in Nov and did a lot of the Christmas markets. Her daughter was THE youngest person on the cruise at age 48. She never once saw a person in the pool, and a few times the hot tub was used, but its freezing in Nov at that time. She loved the experience. Her & her daughter are avid cruisers and cruise twice a year normally, so she was able to make lots of comparisons.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[cruisecrasher]

Am I the only one who's expecting to be underwhelmed by these announcements? Either a "release" of the dry dock remodel photos already leaked (shown here-http://disneycruiselineblog.com/2013/01/potential-interior-concept-design-renderings-the-disney-magics-2013-overhaul-wonder-art/)
Or Monster's University themed cruises (they did call it a Monstrous announcement, if they meant monstrous, they capitalized oddly) plus it goes with the "Monstrous Summer" they're promoting- http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/let-the-memories-begin/monstrous-summer-walt-disney-world/
Anyone else?
I'm really hoping its two new ships but expecting this instead.

 

[wcw57]

i don't get the river cruises by Disney thing....I mean, there are sooooo many boutique cruises that already exist what would be the Disney draw?

However, Americana-themed cruises up the Mississippi or Hudson or what have you would be a great tie-in (Mike Keel, good ol' USA, etc) for the Disney brand....I think.

 

[wcw57]

I think it is amazing how multiple threads about the same subject appear here....sometimes by the same poster (note the romantic and vow renewal threads) anyhow, not having seen this thread before I posted on that OTHER thread, I can only assume that great minds think alike...that is, yours and mine!

 

[Buckeye218]

i don't get the river cruises by Disney thing....I mean, there are sooooo many boutique cruises that already exist what would be the Disney draw?

However, Americana-themed cruises up the Mississippi or Hudson or what have you would be a great tie-in (Mike Keel, good ol' USA, etc) for the Disney brand....I think.

When I first heard this, I was thinking along these same lines...although that would likely mean the ship would be U.S. flagged which of course means complying with the more stringent (read: expensive) U.S. standards.

But I would definitely be on board w/ U.S. themed river cruises. What about the Colorado? I think that would make for an amazing river cruise, although I'm sure how navigable it is.

 

[woody73]

. . . have confirmed a fifth ship, and that one is to be a much smaller ship that will allow Disney Cruise Line to charter smaller river itineraries like the Columbia or the Rhine.

The Rhine is very scenic. I particularly enjoyed visiting the quaint small towns.

Woody

 

[wcw57]

can anyone explain why one would travel to Europe to get on a Disney river ship as opposed to any of the existing river lines? I mean, the whole European/continental mystique thing as opposed to Mickey?

 

[Rogillio]

That would be so great. A Disney River cruise in Europe, I vote for the Danube so I could see it pass every week .

I've always been under the impression that there are almost exclusively seinior people on river cruises, maybe this would be different with a Disney ship, I would totally book such a cruise.

20 years ago I would have said this about all cruises! Up until I heard of the Big Red Boat, I would never imagine taking a cruise for a family vacation...cruises were for old people and party animals.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

When I first heard this, I was thinking along these same lines...although that would likely mean the ship would be U.S. flagged which of course means complying with the more stringent (read: expensive) U.S. standards.

But I would definitely be on board w/ U.S. themed river cruises. What about the Colorado? I think that would make for an amazing river cruise, although I'm sure how navigable it is.

Unless all you Disney fans actually BOOK.. (and book a lot) I don't think we will see River Cruises by Disney in the US. In truth the demand is not there. Most of the others have gone out of business due to the lack of demand.

I think your only two options are the Great Lakes and the Mississippi.

 

[N365PA]

I cant see a small Disney boat doing river cruises on the same style as the current ships. Maybe as an Adventures by Disney "hotel" that follows you down the Rhine...maybe.