3rd Ship?

[disneyelaine]

When we were onboard in Aug. our waiter told us the name of the 3rd Disney Ship. I can not remember what he said! Does anyone know?

 

[Señor Ferrari]

This topic comes up every few weeks or so. The name people often give for the "third" Disney ship is the Disney Dream. BUT.....

There is no such ship currently being built. While DCL has been saying for over a year that they are looking into building a third ship, neither they, nor any major shipyard in the world, have announced a contract to build such a ship. There are only so many places in the world where a cruise ship can be built, so the industry press would almost certainly know about it if there was such a contract. This is not something that it routinely kept hush-hush, either. It's a big deal to sign a contract to build a half-billion dollar vessel.

Hopefully, they'll announce something soon. I'm taking a wait-and-see attitude. I would think that given how long it takes to build a ship that a potential third ship would not be in service until 2004 at the earliest.

 

[BeanoC]

Senor Ferrari's "wait and see" attitude is the only way to go for now... otherwise all the rumors will drive you crazy!

- The new ship will sail out of Port Canaveral and the Magic is moving to Los Angeles.

- The new ship will make Transatlantic crossings.

- There are TWO new ships coming, and the Wonder and Magic will both go to California for land/sea Disneyland/Mexico trips.

- The Wonder will soon be doing Alaskan cruises

...and on and on.

But with NO new Disney ship even contracted for, much less under construction, the wait has gotta be at least 18 months or so. For now, the Disney Dream is just that - a dream!


'Beano'

 

[Luckymommyx2]

Wow...I never heard the transatlantic crossing rumor! Now that one would get me excited! Darn, maybe I shouldn't have read this thread! LOL!

 

[shmoogrrrl]

Originally posted by BeanoC

...and on and on.

Beano,

You forgot the most important rumor! The Disney Magic is going to become my personal ship and they are going to move me into the Walt Disney Suite to sail around the world.

Kathy

 

[mmouse37]

Or the rumor that DCL will be sailing to Bermuda out of New York City!!!!


MJ

 

[CRB#33]

Well, I've been trying to book a cruise for the summer of '04, and they still haven't released any rates past April '04.

I keep wondering if the possibility of a new ships maiden voyage being around that time is why they haven't released the rates.

 

[akterrye]

Let's not forget:

As soon as the international space station is finished, Disney is building a ship for space cruises...afterall, they are right next door to Cape Canaveral and NASA! Anyone heard what they're planning on naming it?

 

[Willowwind]

Let's see, the Space Shuttles go in alphabetical order.. a b c d e.. I think we'd be on F so... Figment?

I think that Figment is the perfect name for a rumored Disney Space Shuttle!!!

 

[Werner Weiss]

Originally posted by CRB#33
Well, I've been trying to book a cruise for the summer of '04, and they still haven't released any rates past April '04.

I keep wondering if the possibility of a new ships maiden voyage being around that time is why they haven't released the rates.

Would you like to see a list of cruise ships currently under construction? Go to http://www.cruiseserver.net/travelpage/other/new_build.asp

It's an impressive list -- but DCL isn't on it.

If DCL hasn't contracted for a new ship yet, a maiden voyage by the summer of 2004 seems unlikely.

 

[AliPom]

I was on the 9/8 Wonder Cruise. Our tablemates attended the disembarkation cruise At dinner they asked us if we attended because there was mention by DCL staff of a possible 3rd ship being built and that DCL is looking into the possibility of a pacific Alaskan cruise, or transatlantic. Take it as you will.

 

[plutospup]

Has anyone heard that Capt. Hans really didn't leave DCL. He's coordinating plans for the 3rd ship.?????

 

[Werner Weiss]

Originally posted by plutospup
Has anyone heard that Capt. Hans really didn't leave DCL. He's coordinating plans for the 3rd ship.?????

That's the first I heard that rumor, but it's a rumor I would really like to believe.

Capt. Hans Mateboer was part of DCL's newbuilding team at the Fincantieri shipyards in Marghera and Ancona, Italy, where he oversaw the construction of the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder. It would be great if DCL could take advantage of that experience for the next DCL cruise ship(s).

 

[poopie]

Let them bring one to the west Coast. Does anyoneknow how long it takes to buid one of those ships? and how much they cost?

 

[Werner Weiss]

Originally posted by poopie
Does anyone know how long it takes to build one of those ships? and how much they cost?

For the Disney Magic, the keel was laid October 21, 1996, and her maiden voyage was July 30, 1998. That's about 21 months. (The Disney Magic was supposed to have her maiden voyage in April 1998, but there were delays.) Looking at a few other cruise ships, it seems that 18-21 months is fairly typical.

But keep in mind that there's a lag time from when a contract is signed until the keel is laid. First, there needs to be space in a shipyard's construction facility; that might mean waiting for another ship that's currently under construction to be launched. Also, assembling the materials, even for initial construction, is not a trivial matter.

The Disney cruise ships are reported to have cost around $400 million each. If you look at the chart at http://www.cruiseserver.net/travelpage/other/new_build.asp , you'll see that other ships in the same size class as the Disney ships, such as new the Holland America ships, still cost around $400 million. If, as rumored, the new Disney cruise ship design involves a larger ship, the price tag could be more like $500 million each. It remains to be seen whether Mr. Pressler and Mr. Eisner are willing to commit that much Disney capital at a time when the cruise industry seems to be headed for a serious glut of capacity.

 

[taswira]

Originally posted by Werner Weiss
Capt. Hans Mateboer was part of DCL's newbuilding team at the Fincantieri shipyards in Marghera and Ancona, Italy, where he oversaw the construction of the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder.

Was Capt. Hans actually THE overseer, or just part of the team? I thought Capt. Tom was basically "in charge" of the team. I know that he'd lived in Orlando for 4 or 5 months until March 1996 when he moved to Italy and became part of DCL’s New Buildings Team. Wasn't he the first captain of the Magic, or was it Capt. Hans? I'm sure you know more about it than I.

 

[Werner Weiss]

Originally posted by taswira
Was Capt. Hans actually THE overseer, or just part of the team?

Here's an article ("Disney Powers Ahead In Cruise Venture Development") from marinelink.com, September 1996: http://www.marinelink.com/sep96/mr09206.html

The third paragraph reads:
<BLOCKQUOTE>The cruise line has also appointed its second master, Capt. <b>Hans Mateboer</b>, former master of Holland America&#146;s <i>Ryndam</i>, <i>Rotterdam</i>, <i>Statendam</i> and <i>Maasdam</i>. He joins Capt. <b>Tom</b> <b>Forberg</b>, who is the master for <i>Disney Magic</i>. Both will be instrumental in the launch of the first ship in early 1998, and following its inaugural season, Capt. <b>Mateboer</b> will assume responsibility for<i> Disney Magic</i>, as Capt. <b>Forberg</b> turns his focus to the second ship&#146;s launching. Capt. <b>Mateboer</b> has joined DCL&#146;s newbuilding team at Fincantieri&#146;s yards in Marghera and Ancona, Italy, to oversee the construction of the cruise ships.</BLOCKQUOTE>
It seems that Capt. Tom had the bigger role, if for no other reason than by the virtue of having been hired before Capt. Hans. But, in any case, Capt. Hans would bring valuable experience if Disney goes ahead with a fleet expansion.

Alas, according to this board, Capt. Hans left DCL. But I like the "rumor" that he hasn't really left; he's secretly involved with DCL fleet expansion.

 

[taswira]

Originally posted by Werner Weiss
Alas, according to this board, Capt. Hans left DCL. But I like the "rumor" that's he hasn't really left; he's secretly involved with DCL fleet expansion.

Thanks! I like that rumor, too!

 

[poopie]

That was very intresting. I had no idea so many ships were being built.

 

[disneyholic family]

on the other hand capital is very very cheap right now (if they feel like borrowing to build it...)....
it's about as cheap as it's ever going to be....
as for where it will be......if it comes across the atlantic to us i'll be forever grateful....