2 new ships - what must features should they plan into the design?

[truck1]

With 4 ships yes that could be a problem, but with the magic in europe, and the wonder in alaska during the summer months, that only leaves 3 cc days being used. As the two new ships do not have home ports as of yet, I think we should not include them.
Yes cc would require street lighting to operate after dark. It may already be there but cleverly disguised or hidden for the workers? I'm sure it could be done, and also the ship could be used as a mobile power plant for any additional electricity needed! The wonder, dream and fantasy already have the ability to cold iron (to take power from the shore instead of running their engines while in port) so I would think that could be reversed?

Princess Shmoo, are you sure they do have to undock at night now they have an immigration check point as you get off the ship? I've read reports of the ship docking late at night or early hours when bad weather could cause them to miss the port the next day?



They could do a double dip of two days in a row at cc schedule permitting!
I think it would be wonderful to do this with an evening dinner for couples set up on serenity cove, and fire pits on the beach! No swimming after dark though, so that could be a problem stoping passengers trying to go in the water?

They have before done double dips back to back at cc. Usually because of weather and each time the ship left the pier. The one the thing that keeps coming back to me now that I've seen someone mention it is lack of island staff. I agree it sounds nice and even romantic but is there enough cooks and wait staff to properly man both the ship and shoreside eateries?

Now that you mention it, I had not thought of the water issues.

 

[C6PT7]

They have before done double dips back to back at cc. Usually because of weather and each time the ship left the pier. The one the thing that keeps coming back to me now that I've seen someone mention it is lack of island staff. I agree it sounds nice and even romantic but is there enough cooks and wait staff to properly man both the ship and shoreside eateries?

Now that you mention it, I had not thought of the water issues.

I think if reservations were made in advance, and they would need to be, the chef's, cooks and waitstaff could be appropriated to either ship or ashore in much the same way they approximate how many staff they need on the ship to keep the dining spaces open during cc day for those that return to the ship.
To be fair, if they added a small upcharge, they could even bring in additional chefs and cooks from the Abaco islands.
If the island staff also have a day without a ship the next day, that gives them a buffer to reset the island for the next pax.
These are all just thought out loud! lol!

 

[truck1]

Something that hasn't been mentioned yet - probably because it's a real long shot - is with the extra ships...would another private island/beach be something they consider? Maybe a private port/beach on Cuba (similar to what RCCL has at Labadee, Haiti)?

Anything is possible. Carnival and Royal both have 2 islands. Labadee and coco cay

 

[truck1]

I think if reservations were made in advance, and they would need to be, the chef's, cooks and waitstaff could be appropriated to either ship or ashore in much the same way they approximate how many staff they need on the ship to keep the dining spaces open during cc day for those that return to the ship.
To be fair, if they added a small upcharge, they could even bring in additional chefs and cooks from the Abaco islands.
If the island staff also have a day without a ship the next day, that gives them a buffer to reset the island for the next pax.
These are all just thought out loud! lol!

It's a thought.

 

[C6PT7]

I think until the Zika virus either diminishes or we create innoculation, no cruise line will think about buying another island in the caribbean or bahama region, especially one that is geared towards families.

 

[Shanti]

I think until the Zika virus either diminishes or we create innoculation, no cruise line will think about buying another island in the caribbean or bahama region, especially one that is geared towards families.

I'd like to see a regular route to Hawaii and back. One that would drop you or pick you up from Oahu, with transportation to or from Aulani, would be ideal.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I'd like to see a regular route to Hawaii and back. One that would drop you or pick you up from Oahu, with transportation to or from Aulani, would be ideal.

Are you talking about one-way cruises from/to Hawaii? Where would you want the other end to be (one end Oahu, one end where?)

 

[Shanti]

Are you talking about one cruises from/to Hawaii? Where would you want the other end to be (one end Oahu, one end where?)

California- you could combine it with a trip to Disneyland.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

California- you could combine it with a trip to Disneyland.

It can't be done.

It would be illegal for a foreign-flagged ship to transport passengers from one US port to a different US port without a stop in a distant foreign port. A distant foreign port is any port NOT in North America, Central America, the Bermuda Islands, or the West Indies (including the Bahama Islands, but not including the Leeward Islands of the Netherlands Antilles, i.e., Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao).

 

[Shanti]

It can't be done.

It would be illegal for a foreign-flagged ship to transport passengers from one US port to a different US port without a stop in a distant foreign port. A distant foreign port is any port NOT in North America, Central America, the Bermuda Islands, or the West Indies (including the Bahama Islands, but not including the Leeward Islands of the Netherlands Antilles, i.e., Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao).

I'm sure they could find a foreign port to stop in en-route to satisfy that requirement.

 

[C6PT7]

It can't be done.

It would be illegal for a foreign-flagged ship to transport passengers from one US port to a different US port without a stop in a distant foreign port. A distant foreign port is any port NOT in North America, Central America, the Bermuda Islands, or the West Indies (including the Bahama Islands, but not including the Leeward Islands of the Netherlands Antilles, i.e., Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao).

If it is illegal to transport passengers from one US port to a different US port without a stop in a distant foreign port, that does not include the Bahama Islands, how does the dream cruises work?
They only go to nassau and cc?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I'm sure they could find a foreign port to stop in en-route to satisfy that requirement.

The closest distant foreign port any where in the area is Fanning Island (about a 3 day cruise southwest of Hawaii). And there's nothing there.

The key word being DISTANT. Yes, there are foreign ports, in Mexico, as well as Canada, but they won't work. It has to be a port that's NOT in North America or Central America to be considered a distant foreign port.

 

[Shanti]

The closest distant foreign port any where in the area is Fanning Island (about a 3 day cruise southwest of Hawaii). And there's nothing there.

The key word being DISTANT. Yes, there are foreign ports, in Mexico, as well as Canada, but they won't work. It has to be a port that's NOT in North America or Central America to be considered a distant foreign port.

Done arguing. You baited me on purpose in order to be nasty.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

If it is illegal to transport passengers from one US port to a different US port without a stop in a distant foreign port, that does not include the Bahama Islands, how does the dream cruises work?
They only go to nassau and cc?

"Transporting" as in embarking in one port and debarking in a different port. Not just making a call in the Bahamas.

A round trip cruise (closed loop, beginning and ending in the SAME US port) only requires a stop in a foreign port, any foreign port.

A one way (open jaw, beginning and ending in two DIFFERENT US ports) requires a stop in a distant foreign port.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Done arguing. You baited me on purpose in order to be nasty.

Not at all. I'm sorry you feel that way.

I was just pointing out that it can't be done. Disney got into trouble with this law when they were first doing the Alaska cruises. And many people don't understand that it's a real issue.

 

[C6PT7]

"Transporting" as in embarking in one port and debarking in a different port. Not just making a call in the Bahamas.

A round trip cruise (closed loop, beginning and ending in the SAME US port) only requires a stop in a foreign port, any foreign port.

A one way (open jaw, beginning and ending in two DIFFERENT US ports) requires a stop in a distant foreign port.

Ah! Jaw wide open!

 

[karmacats]

Something that hasn't been mentioned yet - probably because it's a real long shot - is with the extra ships...would another private island/beach be something they consider? Maybe a private port/beach on Cuba (similar to what RCCL has at Labadee, Haiti)?

when i was on the wonder a couple of weeks ago i took a ship tour, and afterwards hung out for a bit talking to the cast member who gave the tour, and he mentioned that he has other family members who work for DCL and one of them is working on theming/design for a second island. i didn't mention it on here before because a) you have to take everything cast members say with a grain of salt and b) even if there are themes being worked on, that doesn't mean the second island would actually ever come to pass. that said, when i saw the announcement about the new ships, DH and i both said "maybe that's why they need a new island!" so, who knows...

 

[Fathawkeye]

Castaway Cay isn't the first island Disney has owned - they once owned another island in the Bahamas - which is now Bakers Bay Golf and Ocean Club. The island never opened because it was too shallow to get cruise ships in there. They would dredge the ocean to create more room - but miscalculated the tides and the sand would fall back into place.

 

[steveyjc81]

I think I remember Kevin or John tweeting about the rumour of a 2 new ships and a second island when they were in California for the D23 conference

 

[princesskayla]

I want to see an Adventurer's Club (like the one they closed at DD). The cruise ship would be the perfect place to add that kind of entertainment. I love the idea of a lazy river. Virtual balconies would be super nice with directional fans (to get the feel of the ocean too!) I have no doubt that what ever is placed on these ships - it will be innovative and special. I can't wait!