StephenKay
DVC Member VWL 2001
- Joined
- Dec 9, 2000
Evening Everyone,
I have been fortunate to be on the recent Eastbound Transatlantic crossing and after a weeks break a Med Cruise, during this time I have been asking some of the ships officers some info about the forthcoming drydock.
Firstly the ship will be growing some 20 plus feet at the back of the rear of the ship, known to staff as the duck tail. The reason is simple due to the increase in weight applied on deck 9 and 10 will alter the balance of the center of gravity. The duck tail is under construction already and major cutting of the hull will take place within hours of being place in the dock. The ship was due to be out of the water for just 3 weeks, however they now expect the ship will be out for the full 5 weeks, and when she returns to the water they will be going straight to the transatlantic crossing with contractors still onboard.
What we see throughout the ship will change by 75%, this will be completed by a team of 1200 contractors plus the dockyard crew. Infact small changes are being made as we speak, on the EBTA we had a team of Estonian's changing and fitting new wood panelling of the various stairwells, if you remember some had a grey covering in many areas. The panelling will extended into the corridors to staterooms as well, this will remove the old look around these areas.
One area being assessed last week was the signage, such as the corrections in removing the "Outlook Bar" and strange arrows pointing to nowhere. These were all being photographed and measured last week.
We all know that Topsiders will disappear, infact they are removing a large bulkhead that spilts the current diningroom in 2 and this will give the space required along with the removal of the walkway around the starboard side of deck 9 aft which connects the kids pool area to Topsiders. This change will also see the removal of the Gooffy Gallery and Ice Bar, this will now all be inside the Cabanas Restaurant. Another deck 9 change will be the removal of a outside stairwell, which one I got confused about. I think its the starboard as they are increasing the size of Pluto's doghouse and maybe removing the adjacent bar to allow for kids pool slide enchancement, which will see it rise by a significant height.
Changes will be made to Palo, some just cosmetic, such as new blinds, however I was told it might include an outside dining area, certainly no Remy.
In Animators Palate, things will look the same however in most areas the walls are being moved back by 1 metre to give more overall dining space, this is easily achieved as a gap of 1 metre was built in the 90's to accomodate the large displays and speakers, these will all now be LCD's
Every room will look completely different, they said about the change of furniture, like the high beds which allow baggage storage and removal of the old sofa beds, again these will look like the newer ships. I should say at this point many officers stressed that it will remain the Magic and not just a smaller Dream, the really stressed that point. Something that been talked about is the new cabling for interactive services in the rooms will take a lot of effort, for interactive services read Magic Portholes and inroom bill veiwing. One big challenge, is that of the waste and water both hot and cold, all systems will be completely removed, which will be great as the ship is struggling daily with waste leaks.
Just as I said the Chilhuly will go, have a look at my post on the first of Apr, yes first of Apr, and of course the stairway to the left of Lumieres will go to allow more photography sets in that area. Mickey will of course go to right where the piano sits to make it easier to allow access to the restaurant.
The bars are all changing, if you see them this summer take pics as it's all change, decor the lot. Sessions will be Keys (No Tim, he is off to the Wonder with Peter the CD, this means Brent is returning prior to drydock) Diversions will become the O'Gills Irish Bar and Rockin Bar D will become Fathoms with all new lighting and decor/seating.
As for the shops, the walkway between the 2 shops will become all glass to enable an increase in size and a change in overall decor and shelving. The shop Up Beat may see a name change but many aren't sure what is happening down stairs.
One big gripe is the wifi onboard and that's to be improved as the signal strength around all areas including the crew area!! The crew will see the crew bar move from it's current location to deck 5 forward.
The kids clubs will be all change as had been already shown on various sites, that said I did hear a comment that it might not just include Marvel, Ironman and the words Star Wars was mentioned.
We shall all have to wait and see, the project in my eyes is 2 years too late, however they were building 2 new ships at that time, but I think it shall be worth the wait. We shall just have to wish them all well.
PS: Dont be surprised if you hear of the 2 new ships being announced in the next year, both will be bigger than the Magic/Wonder however smaller than the Dream/Fantasy.
I have been fortunate to be on the recent Eastbound Transatlantic crossing and after a weeks break a Med Cruise, during this time I have been asking some of the ships officers some info about the forthcoming drydock.
Firstly the ship will be growing some 20 plus feet at the back of the rear of the ship, known to staff as the duck tail. The reason is simple due to the increase in weight applied on deck 9 and 10 will alter the balance of the center of gravity. The duck tail is under construction already and major cutting of the hull will take place within hours of being place in the dock. The ship was due to be out of the water for just 3 weeks, however they now expect the ship will be out for the full 5 weeks, and when she returns to the water they will be going straight to the transatlantic crossing with contractors still onboard.
What we see throughout the ship will change by 75%, this will be completed by a team of 1200 contractors plus the dockyard crew. Infact small changes are being made as we speak, on the EBTA we had a team of Estonian's changing and fitting new wood panelling of the various stairwells, if you remember some had a grey covering in many areas. The panelling will extended into the corridors to staterooms as well, this will remove the old look around these areas.
One area being assessed last week was the signage, such as the corrections in removing the "Outlook Bar" and strange arrows pointing to nowhere. These were all being photographed and measured last week.
We all know that Topsiders will disappear, infact they are removing a large bulkhead that spilts the current diningroom in 2 and this will give the space required along with the removal of the walkway around the starboard side of deck 9 aft which connects the kids pool area to Topsiders. This change will also see the removal of the Gooffy Gallery and Ice Bar, this will now all be inside the Cabanas Restaurant. Another deck 9 change will be the removal of a outside stairwell, which one I got confused about. I think its the starboard as they are increasing the size of Pluto's doghouse and maybe removing the adjacent bar to allow for kids pool slide enchancement, which will see it rise by a significant height.
Changes will be made to Palo, some just cosmetic, such as new blinds, however I was told it might include an outside dining area, certainly no Remy.
In Animators Palate, things will look the same however in most areas the walls are being moved back by 1 metre to give more overall dining space, this is easily achieved as a gap of 1 metre was built in the 90's to accomodate the large displays and speakers, these will all now be LCD's
Every room will look completely different, they said about the change of furniture, like the high beds which allow baggage storage and removal of the old sofa beds, again these will look like the newer ships. I should say at this point many officers stressed that it will remain the Magic and not just a smaller Dream, the really stressed that point. Something that been talked about is the new cabling for interactive services in the rooms will take a lot of effort, for interactive services read Magic Portholes and inroom bill veiwing. One big challenge, is that of the waste and water both hot and cold, all systems will be completely removed, which will be great as the ship is struggling daily with waste leaks.
Just as I said the Chilhuly will go, have a look at my post on the first of Apr, yes first of Apr, and of course the stairway to the left of Lumieres will go to allow more photography sets in that area. Mickey will of course go to right where the piano sits to make it easier to allow access to the restaurant.
The bars are all changing, if you see them this summer take pics as it's all change, decor the lot. Sessions will be Keys (No Tim, he is off to the Wonder with Peter the CD, this means Brent is returning prior to drydock) Diversions will become the O'Gills Irish Bar and Rockin Bar D will become Fathoms with all new lighting and decor/seating.
As for the shops, the walkway between the 2 shops will become all glass to enable an increase in size and a change in overall decor and shelving. The shop Up Beat may see a name change but many aren't sure what is happening down stairs.
One big gripe is the wifi onboard and that's to be improved as the signal strength around all areas including the crew area!! The crew will see the crew bar move from it's current location to deck 5 forward.
The kids clubs will be all change as had been already shown on various sites, that said I did hear a comment that it might not just include Marvel, Ironman and the words Star Wars was mentioned.
We shall all have to wait and see, the project in my eyes is 2 years too late, however they were building 2 new ships at that time, but I think it shall be worth the wait. We shall just have to wish them all well.
PS: Dont be surprised if you hear of the 2 new ships being announced in the next year, both will be bigger than the Magic/Wonder however smaller than the Dream/Fantasy.