Big Red Boat

[sweet angel]

I was on "The Big Red Boat" for my honeymoon in 1989. I think it was "Atlantic"? It was great...we had a blast. We booked for 1991, but I ended up cancelling because I got pregnant -- due date was the date we were scheduled to leave.

 

[suzannef]

We also went on the Big red boat for our honeymoon in 1990. We were on the Atlantic for 4 nights and then 3 nights at the disney village resorts( which is now used for students or something???) We had such a great time. The food and service were fantastic. The crew was so much fun. I can't believe we haven't been on a cruise since then. It just never worked out between jobs kids life etc....We can't wait to go on Dcl in May. Does anyone remember the name of premiers private island? It really was relaxing and gorgeous.




Suzanne

 

[sweet angel]

Blue Lagoon Island? Or maybe that's what it is now...

 

[disneyohdisney]

We did the BRB in 1991, in Cat 1, which was a wonderful, huge suite, and not much higher than the other rooms (as Cat 1 is today in Magic/Wonder). The ship was already showing its age, but with the Disney touch it didn't matter. We loved the island! And the kids loved all of the ice cream they had.

 

[zeke11]

Yes! A Big Red Boat veteran here!

We sailed in May of 1995 - our girls were 8, 7 and 3 and I was newly pg with my son In fact, I found out I was pg just a week before we were to leave! It was quite a surprise --

Anyway, when we went, Disney was not affiliated with the BRB and the characters on board were the Looney Tunes. We were very very impressed with the service. I hate to say it and don't flame me, but our cabin steward was much better than the one we had on the Wonder in September. And our server at dinner was about 100 X better than our Wonder server. The fellow on the BRB brought my 3 yo plain pasta every night for dinner - right off the bat. We had explained to him that was her favorite meal and he would just bring it to her, and stand behind her cutting it up. It was so sweet! Of course, she could also order anything else she wanted as well.

The Looney Tunes characters walked around in the dining room on character breakfast day which was very sweet - we got so many cute pictures of the kids with Tweety and Taz and Bugs, of course.

We did Disney World on our own for 4 days before the cruise, rented a car and drove to the port. Our cabin was not as luxurious as the Disney ships, but we were able to sleep 5 of us in one cabin comfortably and it was affordable, too. I think on Disney if you have 5 people its actually cheaper to book two cabins.

The private island is what is now Blue Lagoon and we did that excursion this past September for old times sake. And loved it just as much. My kids are now 18, 16, 13 and 9 - how time flies!!

Kris

 

[Karel]

When we went for our honeymoon, the only thing 'Disney' about the BRB was the fact that you could combine your cruise with a visit to the Disney parks. We didn't even choose to stay at a Disney resort because that was more expensive. (I totally regret that decision now)

There was nothing Disney about the actual cruise. It was just a package deal in which you received Disney tickets.

 

[MaryJ]

We went on the Atlantic in 1991...a land/sea package that was a 4 day cruise and 3 days at WDW. I still remember how my DD begged to go to "Pluto's Playhouse" and how she ate spaghetti every night for supper. Our waiter would cut the spaghetti for her. We felt totally pampered even then. Didn't cruise again until last spring when we went on RCCL's Mariner of the Seas. I'm sure that was a enormous change, but since it had been so long between cruises, I didn't really notice.

 

[princess Snow]

The Big Red Boat is now jokingly referred to as the "Big Dead Boat" by Disney CMs because of its current status--growing mold in Freeport.

 

[tweetsie]

Mine and DH's very first cruise was on the Big Red Boat back in June 1992. We had a blast.

 

[zeke11]

The Big Dead Boat -- ohhh, that is so sad! We had such a fun cruise on this boat.

I know there were two of them - the Atlantic and the Oceanic, but can't remember which one we were on in 1995. Which one is docked in Freeport, anyone know?

Kris

 

[ChrizJen]

I never had the pleasure of sailing on BRB...Never even seen it. Anyone have pictures from their trips?
Thanks!!

 

[disneyfan73]

Never got a chance to take a BRB cruise. Found this web site with a some photos. How many ships did Premier use with the disney ?


http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/PremierPCs.html

 

[ChrizJen]

Thanks, disneyfan. Those look like beautiful ships. (not quite as beautiful as Magic and Wonder IMHO ) LOL
But there are a lot of the classic features like DCL has now.
Anyway, thanks for the link.
-Christal

 

[NYGiantsRule!]

We sailed on the BRB in May 1999. It was our first cruise. Our room was so small we could hardly move. DS (6 at the time) won a free "Tuck-in". Bugs Bunny came to our room and tucked him into bed. They sent a photographer along. It would be nice if DCL did something like that on the Magic and Wonder.

 

[videogal1]

How many ships did Premier use with the disney ?


http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/PremierPCs.html

The Majestic and the larger, Oceanic.

 

[mickeyfan1]

The Original Premier Cruise Line ships were Oceanic and Majestic. Atlantic was added later. I cruised on Oceanic twice, Majestic twice and Atlantic once. I did land and sea, staying at Delta Court of Flags across from Wet and Wild the first time and I don't remember where the second time, and a Howard Johnsons on 193 one time. The Big Red Boat was known as the "Official Cruise Line of Walt Disney World", I still have many suveniers that say that.

The Majestic was also the very first Love Boat, if you ever see the original season, you will see her. She was the smallest of the three ships, and sailed to the Abacos Islands rather than Nassau and Freeport. On one sailing, the seas were really bad, while we were anchored off the islands, we were pushed onto a sand bar and got stuck. We had to be pushed off via a tug.

In 1995, the Beach Boys sailed on the Atlantic to Nassau and gave a concert that evening on the pier between the two ships, Oceananic and Altantic. I was on the Atlantic for that cruise, and I celebrated my birthday that night.

Disney and Premier went their seperate ways and Warner Brothers teamed up with them. One of the cutest character offerings was that Tweety would come and tuck your kids in at night (for a fee of course). Imagine if DCL did this, what a money maker that would be. I would request Captain Jack Sparrow tuck me in, but I suppose that won't happen.

One thing that I wish DCL would have done when they created their ships was to take a clue from the Big Red Boats kitchens. Premier hired chefs that were top rated, and the food on those ships was better than any other ship I have been on.

It is sad that Premier had to abandone their ships in ports. They had fallen behind in paying taxes, port fees, lease payments, etc. The ships were confiscated in port. Many of the crew were not allowed off for quite some time, and Premier did nothing to help them get back to their home countries.

 

[sweet angel]

Wanna know how dumb I am? When I went to the TA to book my Disney cruise last year, I asked her if I got any discount for rebooking. She asked when I had sailed and I told her it was in 1989. She said, "Um, no. You didn't sail with Disney, you sailed on The Big Red Boat". Boy did I feel dumb, but my DBF got a kick out of it.

I remember they (Premier) had a discount for repeat sailings.

 

[Disnurse2B]

Yep! We are big red boaters, too. Twice as a matter of fact. Once in 1989, and again in 1992 (I think.) We had a marvelous time! The food WAS fantastic!
I gained 9 pounds in 4 days!! The midnight buffet was to die for. Also, Salt Cay was the private island. And, yes, it is now referred to as the Blue Lagoon. It was spectacular. To this day, it was one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. We will also be going on the Blue Lagoon beach excursion this time - for old time's sake. I can't wait for that blast of the past.

 

[aprilgail2]

The thing that amazed me when I saw it in Freeport was next to the Wonder it looked like a tug boat LOL....it was SO tiny next to us!

 

[15minfromOGDL]

Is that the same Blue Lagoon Excursion that you can take from Nassau. When I went there as a teen I always thought the private island was really in desolate area of the Bahamas not just right around the corner from Paradise Island.