Big Red Boat

[lbgraves]

We were told it was backed by Disney when we bought ours too. What year was Disney s first Magic/Wonder sailing? Anyone know?

The Magic's first cruise was in 1998. The Wonder's was in 1999.

 

[I Love Thumper]

Sorry, but the Big Red Boat was never owned or operated by Disney.

Premier Cruise Line operated 2 ships, the Oceanic and the Atlantic, and called them both the Big Red Boat. They had one contract with Disney to have Disney characters on their ship and marketed 3/4 day cruises with the rest of the week at WDW similar to what DCL does.

When the contract with Disney expired, Disney declined to renew it and Premier then contracted with Warner Brothers to have Looney Tunes characters on the ship.

Premier Cruise Lines went bankrupt....essentially run out of business by DCL. We sailed on it--NO LOSS!

My understanding is that Disney's leasing of characters to Big Red Boat was the "toe in the water" so to speak for Disney before getting into the cruise business. From what I have been told, Disney eventually didn't like its name being linked to BRB without having control over the entire guest experience (for example, people today still think that BRB was owned by Disney...and it wasn't...and it wasn't the best cruise experience by far)! Because of this, Disney was inspired to start their own cruise line. And, I would have to say they've done it right!

 

[mmouse37]

Correct. After Disney pulled their characters off the Big Red Boat (as the relationship with Premier went sour) Premier Cruise Lines licensed with the Looney Tune Characters to be onboard instead of Disney Characters.

I totally agree that Disney has done right with their own cruise line.

Maiden Voyage of the Magic was July 30, 1998 (were were on it) and the Maiden Voyage of the Wonder was August 15, 1999.

MJ

 

[Butterx3]

I went on the Big Red Boat in November 1991, I just came accross the boarding pass that I now use as a bookmark. Anyways, we had a great experience on it. It was my first cruise experience. The Island had a lot more trees and shade than CC does. And it was the Island that the movie "The Blue Lagoon", was filmed at, and also the Island where the opening and closing sequence to "Gilligans Island" was filmed. That is what I was told at the time anyways. My son laughs when he see's pictures of the ship, as it is so little compared to Disney Ships or most Cruise ships now. I got very sea sick on the cruise, I don't think they had stabalizer's then. But our service was excellent, and our waiters were better than any we have had on our 2 DCL cruises. We cruised when the Disney Characters were still on the ship. Anyways thats my 2 cents about The Big Red Boat.

 

[BeckyThane]

I went on the Big Red Boat in November 1991, I just came accross the boarding pass that I now use as a bookmark. Anyways, we had a great experience on it. It was my first cruise experience. The Island had a lot more trees and shade than CC does. And it was the Island that the movie "The Blue Lagoon", was filmed at, and also the Island where the opening and closing sequence to "Gilligans Island" was filmed. That is what I was told at the time anyways. My son laughs when he see's pictures of the ship, as it is so little compared to Disney Ships or most Cruise ships now. I got very sea sick on the cruise, I don't think they had stabalizer's then. But our service was excellent, and our waiters were better than any we have had on our 2 DCL cruises. We cruised when the Disney Characters were still on the ship. Anyways thats my 2 cents about The Big Red Boat.

Thanks, Butter! We may now be closer to solving this mystery of what private island the Big Red Boat used...

While The Blue Lagoon was shot in Fiji, the aerial shot of the island used in the opening sequence of Gilligan's Island was Salt Cay.

 

[Butterx3]

I probably just mis understood since its referred to as the blue lagoon Island. I probably at the time thought that is where they filmed the movie. Or maybe they filmed the blue lagoon II there. I don't know. But I knew something was filmed there. I guess it was just Gilligans Island. I have fond memories of that ship..... My Grandparents took all of their children, and grand children on that cruise, and all the grandchildren (except they younger ones) got to bring a friend or significant other. So it was a blast. I remember the pools were Salt Water though. I didn't care for that, but I guess that is the norm, except for DCL.

 

[Butterx3]

One of my co~workers just looked, and she said the beach scenes from the movie "Splash" were filmed at Salt Cay. So not Blue Lagoon.....

 

[BeckyThane]

It looks like we have a winner... SALT CAY!!!

I'm finding all sorts of hits when I do web searches for "Salt Cay" AND "Big Red Boat".

Mystery solved. Thanks, Butter!!!

 

[dvc4life]

We were also told in 1990 that the movie Blue Lagoon was partially filmed at this island. I just got out our photo as we pulled up to the island, and I can read it, but it is very small saying Blue Lagoon Island. I remember they said there were like 500 hammocks on the island and there was quick sand so beware.

 

[bahama97]

I cruised on the Big Red Boat in 1997. I remember the Looney Tunes characters onboard. I remember having a fantastic time...it was my first cruise.

 

[hgon76]

Thanks, Butter! We may now be closer to solving this mystery of what private island the Big Red Boat used...

While The Blue Lagoon was shot in Fiji, the aerial shot of the island used in the opening sequence of Gilligan's Island was Salt Cay.

If this is the dolphin encounter near Paradise Island (Atlantis) then when we went there in 2006 we were told it was the island that the tv show "flipper" was filmed at.

 

[bevtoy]

If this is the dolphin encounter near Paradise Island (Atlantis) then when we went there in 2006 we were told it was the island that the tv show "flipper" was filmed at.

We were told it was Salt Cay, and that Gilligan's Island and Blue Lagoon had some scenes shot there.

 

[DisneyCDE]

I was on The Big Red Oat, Atlantic, in Dec. 1993. We docked at Nassau and Port Lucaya. I even still have the promotional video for the ship

 

["Got Disney"]

Sorry, but the Big Red Boat was never owned or operated by Disney.

Premier Cruise Line operated 2 ships, the Oceanic and the Atlantic, and called them both the Big Red Boat. They had one contract with Disney to have Disney characters on their ship and marketed 3/4 day cruises with the rest of the week at WDW similar to what DCL does.

When the contract with Disney expired, Disney declined to renew it and Premier then contracted with Warner Brothers to have Looney Tunes characters on the ship.

Premier Cruise Lines went bankrupt....essentially run out of business by DCL. We sailed on it--NO LOSS!

I remember the first time I saw The Big red Boat and thought to myself...they should have called it the little red boat
We were on DCL for the first time and the BRB was docked right next to us. It was a mess(looked in bad shape and out dated) and you could see the looney tunes characters running around on deck. I felt sorry for the passengers on that ship looking over at the brand new Magic.

I was sooooo glad we were on DCL and not that Boat. DH and I were trying to decide which one to go on. We finally had decided on DCL...and once we saw that ship next to us we were sooooo glad we made that decision because looking at the Magic from over there would have made me want to slap myself and say "Why the heck didn't I listen to my gut and book on the DCL!!!

But at the time the Big Red Boat was the family ship to be on. The DCL was just getting it's feet wet. Soon the Big Red Boat was no more.

 

[bevtoy]

I was on The Big Red Oat, Atlantic, in Dec. 1993. We docked at Nassau and Port Lucaya. I even still have the promotional video for the ship

I still have ours too! I used to watch it just to hear that song "Beautiful Woman" its a really good song.

 

[GAN]

We were told it was Salt Cay, and that Gilligan's Island and Blue Lagoon had some scenes shot there.

I traveled back in 1991. I remember mention of "Blue Lagoon" and "Gilligan's" -I believe everyone is correct with it being Salt Cay. Does anyone remember visiting Green Turtle Cay for maybe a 1/2 day? I remember visiting a smaller island as well, while on the cruise. Pretty sure it was Green Turtle Cay.

 

[tvguy]

I traveled back in 1991. I remember mention of "Blue Lagoon" and "Gilligan's" -I believe everyone is correct with it being Salt Cay. Does anyone remember visiting Green Turtle Cay for maybe a 1/2 day? I remember visiting a smaller island as well, while on the cruise. Pretty sure it was Green Turtle Cay.

All the Gilligan's Island trivia websites say the Island used in the show is Coconut Island, in Oahu's Kaneohe Bay, in Hawaii. No mention of any Caribbean locations. Just Hawaii, Newport Harbor in California, and the back lot.
And the Blue Lagoon triva sites say that was all filmed in Fiji.

 

[Tri-circle-D]

All the Gilligan's Island trivia websites say the Island used in the show is Coconut Island, in Oahu's Kaneohe Bay, in Hawaii. No mention of any Caribbean locations. Just Hawaii, Newport Harbor in California, and the back lot.
And the Blue Lagoon triva sites say that was all filmed in Fiji.

True.

I didn't want to burst anyone's bubble, but when my DW and I were younger, we took quite a few Bahamas and Caribbean cruises on different lines, Royal Caribbean, Princess, Carnival, and even aboard the Big Red Boat. The funny thing is that every cruise line claimed that its private island was the one where Gilligan's Island was shot. I'll admit that there was an area on Salt Cay that had a lagoon that looked kind of like the Gilligan's Island lagoon. But, if you ever watched that show, you would know that the lagoon on the show was fake- it was obviously on a sound stage.

It got to be a running joke between us- how many islands claimed to be the site of Gilligan's Island.

And that claim was only eclipsed by the places that claimed to be the inspiration for Jimmy Buffet's "Cheeseburger in Paradise."

TCD

 

[BeckyThane]

From http://www.majesticholidays.com/-dest-PARA-vendor-PI_HEL-_param-1-.htm -- Next on the route of the flight is Sandy Cay, one of The Bahamas' most photographed Islands and recognizable as the island in the opening shot of the Gilligan's Island TV series. The tour takes us westward to Salt Cay better known to many as Blue Lagoon Island famous for its day trip to the beaches and the exhilarating experience of swimming with the Dolphins.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandy_Cay -- Sandy Kay was the island used in the backdrop shot for Gilligan's Island.

From the book Best Dives of the Bahamas & Bermuda, Florida Keys, Turks & Caicos: Premier Cruise Lines' Salt Cay lies three miles northeast of Paradise Island and can be reached by tender from Prince George's Dock in Nassau. The destination has earned fame as the filming location for Gilligan's Island. Diving and snorkeling excursions are arranged with Nassau shops.

 

[Dr.Girlfriend]

LOL. We cruised on the Big Red Boat "Oceanic" when my sister was 1 and I was 9. My Dad HATED it. Apparently our room was right underneath their disco, and he could never sleep at night.

I very much remember a midnight buffet with ice and butter statues. I remember going to "Gilligan's Island"...haha. I laugh now because there really are a LOT of islands out that that all claim they're it. I remember getting stung terribly on my stomach by baby jellyfish there.

I recently came across some HIDEOUS pictures of myself in the "kid's club"; I remember my Mom talking about it about a year ago, and it was outrageously priced. There's some pics of me in this really goofy sailor's hat, holding the steering wheel of the ship and a very 80's Mickey standing behind me (absolutely HORRIBLE professional shot).

Wish I lived closer to my Mom, I would so post those pics!