A SEVENTH ship coming to DCL!

[RAD]

It would also be interesting to see if they'd ever locate one out of Galveston full time. While I know their Wonder sailings have not done particularly well, I think that's because they'd come for a while and then leave. RCCL's Liberty seems to do well and is generally booked up, so there seems to be a market if there is a consistent supply.

I think part of the Galveston problem is that Texas is very strict about taking kids out of school for a vacation. Since the Wonder is usually there only in the late fall there's not many sailings that the family can go on.

 

[cruiser21]

I think part of the Galveston problem is that Texas is very strict about taking kids out of school for a vacation. Since the Wonder is usually there only in the late fall there's not many sailings that the family can go on.

I've cruise out of Galveston the first week of December the last 3 years. The cruises have been sold out. Lots of kids onboard. Yes they do offer GT and MTO rates, but that's normal for Fall cruises. You'll see this on the Fantasy and Magic this Fall too. If your looking for a deal on a Disney cruise Sept to January is always your best bet.

 

[truck1]

Thx. Then I wonder why DCL originally scheduled #5 & #6 with a gap year in-between. Unless three ships was their plan all along, and they intentionally "sat" on one to save it for this year's D23?

And if three ships wasn't their plan all along, I wonder what changed.......

I don't think that there ever was a ship programmed for 2022. At some point after DCLs announcement Bernard Meyer basically said they had no ships planned for delivery in 2022. They have the capability to build up to 4 ships per year.

Usually when a line builds a ship, unless there's a specific reason for it to be a 1 off, they'll do a firm order for say 2 ships, with options for say 2 more. This locks down pricing, planning logistics etc. DCL I'm thinking had solid order for 2, with options for several more. To date DCL has never exercised a ship option. With that said, the Dream class ships were 1.2 billion each. I can easily see the new ships at 1.5 to 1.7 billion each. So when DCL went looking at financing it may have been better for them for 2 ships. But if the financial world changed, it could have secured money for a 3rd. As far the gap between the original 2 ships, it could have been the financing that DCL was using that it was in there best interests to skip a year, either to help pay some back or some other reason. With all of the money that Disney as a whole is dropping, they may have had some better leverage for better rates. It could even have been MW that did some wrangling with DCL for the 3rd ship.

 

[truck1]

My favorite ships, I hope they keep them in service forever. Or build new ones based on the "Classic" style and size.

The Magic class and even the Dream class are built to either a 40 or 50 year service life. Even with a dry dock every 2 or 3 years, ships eventually will wear out or be over taken by safety changes.

At one point DCL had an order for an inbetween class of ships, but they were canceled and shelved. So theoretically theses ships would be 7,8,9.

 

[BruinEd03]

I don't think that there ever was a ship programmed for 2012. At Some point after DCLs announcement Bernard Meyer basically said they had no ships planned for delivery in 2012. They have the capability to build up to 4 ships per year.

Usually when a line builds a ship, unless there's a specific reason for it to be a 1 off, they'll do a firm order for say 2 ships, with options for say 2 more. This locks down pricing, planning logistics etc. DCL I'm thinking had solid order for 2, with options for several more. To date DCL has never exercised a ship option. With that said, the Dream class ships were 1.2 billion each. I can easily see the new ships at 1.5 to 1.7 billion each. So when DCL went lookong at financing it may have been better for them for 2 ships. But if the financial world changed, it could have secured money for a 3rd. As far the gap between the original 2 ships, it could have been the financing that DCL was using that it was in there best interests to skip a year, eother to help pay some back or some other reason. With all of the money that Disney ad a whole is dropping, they may have had some better leverage for better rates. It could even have been MW that did some wrangling with DCL for the 3rd ship.

My guess is similar to this. That they had 2 ships confirmed, but with an option for 3. With how well things are going for Disney and with the interest rates beginning to increase, they decided to exercise the ship and lock in financing for the third ship.

 

[truck1]

My guess is similar to this. That they had 2 ships confirmed, but with an option for 3. With how well things are going for Disney and with the interest rates beginning to increase, they decided to exercise the ship and lock in financing for the third ship.

Could be. Past practice for DCL is 2 and 2. 2 confirmed with options for 2. Something else I was thinking is that with Karl Holz retiring, its possible theres a shift in thinking and planning. Where he's been the cautious one, buying and trying, the new person might be a little more aggressive so to speak.

 

[bbel]

I don't think that there ever was a ship programmed for 2012. At Some point after DCLs announcement Bernard Meyer basically said they had no ships planned for delivery in 2012. They have the capability to build up to 4 ships per year.

I guess you mean 2022?
But if Meyer Werft can build up to 4 ships a year I can see DCL getting a good deal, as at the moment they only have 1 or 2 planned each year for the foreseeable future and there would have been none in 2022 without the extra DCL ship...

 

[truck1]

I guess you mean 2022?
But if Meyer Werft can build up to 4 ships a year I can see DCL getting a good deal, as at the moment they only have 1 or 2 planned each year for the foreseeable future and there would have been none in 2022 without the extra DCL ship...

Yes, 22
Sorry fat fingers and a phone that likes to autocorrect to anything but what I wanted. There's no telling why DCL suddenly programmed in a 3rd ship. But whatever the reason, it benefits them. The whole can't fit everything into 2 ships is just an excuse.

 

[bbel]

Yes, 22
Sorry fat fingers and a phone that likes to autocorrect to anything but what I wanted. There's no telling why DCL suddenly programmed in a 3rd ship. But whatever the reason, it benefits them. The whole can't fit everything into 2 ships is just an excuse.

Oh yeah, I said that the cant fit everything in was an excuse earlier, I guess they had a pretty good idea (if not almost/certain) when they announced the two new.
I met Karl Holz last week, if i'd have know I could have asked him lol...

 

[cmwade77]

The Magic class and even the Dream class are built to either a 40 or 50 year service life. Even with a dry dock every 2 or 3 years, ships eventually will wear out or be over taken by safety changes.

At one point DCL had an order for an inbetween class of ships, but they were canceled and shelved. So theoretically theses ships would be 7,8,9.

I think you mean 8, 9 and 10 now.....lol, but the point is valid.

 

[AustinMommyofThree]

I think part of the Galveston problem is that Texas is very strict about taking kids out of school for a vacation. Since the Wonder is usually there only in the late fall there's not many sailings that the family can go on.

I definitely agree with this (living here, we've experienced it, and supposedly we're in one of the more flexible districts). I also think that the "quick stays" didn't give a lot of people long enough to realize the ship was even there, and so it might behoove DCL to do some advertising in the major Texas media markets if they do come back.

 

[AquaDame]

Thx. Then I wonder why DCL originally scheduled #5 & #6 with a gap year in-between. Unless three ships was their plan all along, and they intentionally "sat" on one to save it for this year's D23?

And if three ships wasn't their plan all along, I wonder what changed.......

I wonder if there is any chance they were approached by a third party ala the parks in Asia to go in on a ship for the Asian market? Tokyo has the Oriental Land Company and Shaghai has Shanghai Shendi Group partnered for theirs. If the market is as complicated as some say it is, and there was an article someone else mentioned with Disney saying the Magic would not work in that market maybe one of the ships will be a trial in that kind of endeavor?

 

[truck1]

I think you mean 8, 9 and 10 now.....lol, but the point is valid.

No. The Magic class are 1 and 2. In the summer of 2001 DCL had a letter of intent for 2 ships bigger then the Magic class but smaller then the Dream. Theyd be 3 and 4 if built. They were canceled right after 911. The Dream and Fantasy would be 5 and 6 making the 3 new ships 7,8,9. As it stands the new ships are 5,6,7.

 

[cruiser21]

I wonder if there is any chance they were approached by a third party ala the parks in Asia to go in on a ship for the Asian market? Tokyo has the Oriental Land Company and Shaghai has Shanghai Shendi Group partnered for theirs. If the market is as complicated as some say it is, and there was an article someone else mentioned with Disney saying the Magic would not work in that market maybe one of the ships will be a trial in that kind of endeavor?

All I can find is positive articles about that market. What is the problem there? I can see why the Magic would have a problem competing with all the new ships positioned in Asia.

 

[cmwade77]

No. The Magic class are 1 and 2. In the summer of 2001 DCL had a letter of intent for 2 ships bigger then the Magic class but smaller then the Dream. Theyd be 3 and 4 if built. They were canceled right after 911. The Dream and Fantasy would be 5 and 6 making the 3 new ships 7,8,9. As it stands the new ships are 5,6,7.

Now, his point is that now if the smaller ships do get built, they will be after the new ships are built, which would make them 8, 9 and possibly 10.

 

[mhorgan65]

With 7 ships, they wouldn't miss one if it was down here in NZ/Australia

Perhaps, that cruise ship could do Australia/NZ in the winter (their summer) and China/Asia in the summer.

 

[mhorgan65]

Probably because of the increase in space needed to store the LNG fuel since it less dense than conventional diesel you would need more LNG storage space to keep the the same range . I am not a fan of sitting on that much LNG at sea since it is much more explosive than diesel. Just my opinion. See link about LNG on cruise ships.
https://adi-analytics.com/2016/12/14/lng-poised-to-fuel-the-next-generation-of-cruise-ships

Our local transit system runs CNG transit buses and those are tanks are on top of the roof at a much higher pressure than LNG. Of course, Safety is a priority so they can use advanced fire suppressant systems and what not. I think you should be fine.

 

[NZMUM]

Perhaps, that cruise ship could do Australia/NZ in the winter (their summer) and China/Asia in the summer.

Yep, that'd do. Any time spent in NZ/Australia would be good. Would save a fortune in airfares and then we could spend our savings cruising more often .

 

[ronDisney]

I know nothing about the Cruise industry and I've actually never been on a cruise (Disney or Otherwise). But, a Disney cruise is definitely on me and the Wifey's bucket list. Perhaps we'll make it an Anniversary gift to ourselves.

At any rate...

Given the addition of three new ships and increasing the fleet to seven ships...could that possibly mean a price drop overall, as more cruises will be available at any one time? Or is that just wishful thinking?

 

[truck1]

I know nothing about the Cruise industry and I've actually never been on a cruise (Disney or Otherwise). But, a Disney cruise is definitely on me and the Wifey's bucket list. Perhaps we'll make it an Anniversary gift to ourselves.



At any rate...

Given the addition of three new ships and increasing the fleet to seven ships...could that possibly mean a price drop overall, as more cruises will be available at any one time? Or is that just wishful thinking?

At the very least they'll stay the same. With DCLs past history of raising prices every year, I don't expect that to change any time soon. Unless there's a global issue again not that I'm wishing it on any one, don't hold your breath.