Capt. John's Comments About Re-location of Magic and Wonder

[sk8ingmom]

They just don't hit the ice chunks.

Sometimes easier said than done! There are some part with very narrow channels, fast currents, and shallow draft even at high tide.

But like I said, I don't know enough about the structure of the ship to comment on how big an ice chunk it can take. On cruise ships, the issue is usually the propeller, not the hull.

 

[cruisecastle]

Asia will get one of the ships, possibly Tokyo (er the closet port). Huge untapped market.

Definately NOT true. Will never happen

 

[cruisinluver]

Never say never.

 

[sebfigmin]

Maybe it was already old news and I just wasn't aware--and thus that is why I do not see a thread about it--but I had not previously known that at least part of the puzzle of where the new ships will go was revealed by the decision that Capt. John announced at the Castaway Club reception that upon delivery of both new ships, the Magic and Wonder would both be permanently re-located to a new home port to be determined.

We cruised on the Disney Wonder from May 10th - May 13th in a 1 bedroom Suite with 2 bathrooms which was totally awesome. Captain John said the same thing on our cruise but didn't give any locations where the Magic and Wonder would be permanently re-located to.

 

[Mickey_loves_Minnie]

Sometimes easier said than done! There are some part with very narrow channels, fast currents, and shallow draft even at high tide.

But like I said, I don't know enough about the structure of the ship to comment on how big an ice chunk it can take. On cruise ships, the issue is usually the propeller, not the hull.

Another DISer (forget who) has reported one of the ship captains has specifically said both ships can go to Alaska. The DCL ships aren't any different than those of other lines that go there. They don't need icebreaker hulls in the summer.

 

[sk8ingmom]

Another DISer (forget who) has reported one of the ship captains has specifically said both ships can go to Alaska. The DCL ships aren't any different than those of other lines that go there. They don't need icebreaker hulls in the summer.

They may be able to, I said I didn't know. My objection to Wonder & Magic in AK as they are right now is the guest areas. IMHO, deck 9 & 10 would need major overhauls before they could consider sending them north. It just wouldn't be fun to hang out on deck as it is now about 95% of the time during an Inside Passage cruise.

 

[Amlee]

I think it has been noted that the actual ship going to Asia is the Rhapsody, not the Legend. As for the Mariner going to the West Coast, it is indeed Post-Panamax, but I am booked on the Mariner out of Port Canaveral in March 2008, so are you referring to 2009?

I copied my post directly from an email I get for TAs.

It looks like they missed the date for the Mariner on there. According to RCI's website those sailing start in 2009.

But it was correct on the Legend. Both the Legend and the Rhapsody will be sailing Asia. But they again got the date wrong. The Rhapsody will start in Dec of 2007 and the Legend looks to have it's first sailing in Dec of 2008.

 

[Amlee]

Mariner cannot fit through the Panama Canal, but can circumnavigate So. America. I would love to take that cruise!!!

You and me both!!! I have nothing planned for 2009!!


ETA: I just called RCI about this and they said they would release the dates of this repo and the stops at a future date. So keep your eyes open.

 

[Barbossa]

Asia will get one of the ships, possibly Tokyo (er the closet port). Huge untapped market.

Where did you hear this? I hope it's not true.

 

[Barbossa]

Mariner cannot fit through the Panama Canal, but can circumnavigate So. America. I would love to take that cruise!!!

This would take you around Cape Horn, who's waters are particularly treacherous. Make sure you take your Dramamine!

 

[Mickey_loves_Minnie]

They may be able to, I said I didn't know. My objection to Wonder & Magic in AK as they are right now is the guest areas. IMHO, deck 9 & 10 would need major overhauls before they could consider sending them north. It just wouldn't be fun to hang out on deck as it is now about 95% of the time during an Inside Passage cruise.

My point is that they are able to, it's not "maybe". Many cruise lines send ships to Alaska without such covered deck areas. I don't think any of Norwegian's ships have them. The only thing the Magic and Wonder really seem to lack that other ships have are forward observation lounges, which aren't on the top decks of other ships. But I have to really wonder if DCL would spend lots of $$ adding one (I think it would have to go in where the spa/fitness center is) for just one itinerary.

I certainly think a cover for the pool is a great idea, just for inclement weather, not necessarily for Alaska.

 

[logan1_2000]

We cruised on the Disney Wonder from May 10th - May 13th in a 1 bedroom Suite with 2 bathrooms which was totally awesome. Captain John said the same thing on our cruise but didn't give any locations where the Magic and Wonder would be permanently re-located to.

Exactly. And re-reading my post, I did not mean to give the impression that Capt. John said that both ships would go to one new port--the hypothetical deployments he discussed all envisioned the Wonder going one place, and the Magic going somewhere else.

 

[endkaos]

I wasn't there, but this is how I read it. The current port in Port Canaveral cannot handle more than two ships. Therefore when the two new ships arrive, Disney will have to have new ports with new internaries for two of the ships.

So what is your vote?

Mine is Permanent West Coast with Mexican Riveria with a possible summer of Alaskan runs. Tie it in with DLR and CA; Only thing missing...Castaway Cay.

Maybe a few test trials of a Hawaii/Polynesian run.

There's two dubloons worth,

 

[disneydad123]

So what is your vote?

Mine is Permanent West Coast with Mexican Riveria with a possible summer of Alaskan runs. Tie it in with DLR and CA; Only thing missing...Castaway Cay.

Maybe a few test trials of a Hawaii/Polynesian run.

There's two dubloons worth,[/QUOTE]

Wow we think alike!!

 

[kend58]

So what is your vote?

Mine is Permanent West Coast with Mexican Riveria with a possible summer of Alaskan runs. Tie it in with DLR and CA; Only thing missing...Castaway Cay.

Maybe a few test trials of a Hawaii/Polynesian run.

There's two dubloons worth,

Wow we think alike!! [/QUOTE]

I definitely see disney marketing wanting to set up a 7 day land / sea package and also offer a std year round sevenday option this is what we have out of PC now out of LA with a tie in to DL.

I see one ship positioned "permanently in LA" and another doing mostly seven day runs from there and also running the Trial balloons with REPO to Hawaii, REPO to ASIA and then a season of 7 day land & sea tie ins with DL Tokoyo and DL Hong Kong my two dubloons worth as always YMMV and regarding the ships "new" deployments" at this point it is all speculation

 

[travelgirl06]

Even for a Mexico, a glass canopy over the pools would be beneficial. We sailed to the Mexican Riviera in December and the first day and the last day were pretty chilly (very few people outside). A "crow's nest" style lounge would be a nice addition for these cold weather climates, as would an enclosed promenade.

Another quick (random) note. On many cruise lines you can go up to the very front of the ship in Alaska (e.g. for Glacier bay, etc.), but I don't think Disney could do this, since that is where they have their crew pool. This is not to say they can't go to Alaska, just an observation.

I'm still leaning towards a retrofitted West Coast ship (Alaska & Mexico) and a "floater" ship (primarily Europe in the summer and "exotic" caribbean itineraries in the winter.

 

[Anal Annie]

Even for a Mexico, a glass canopy over the pools would be beneficial. We sailed to the Mexican Riviera in December and the first day and the last day were pretty chilly (very few people outside).

We went on the Magic in early July '05 & it was the same way! I had thought we might want to do that same itinerary again, just at a diff. time of year - but apparently not! At the time I thought we just had poor timing.... That's why we were disappointed when they announced they were doing this itinerary again next summer - so we booked back-to-back cruises on the Wonder instead as we didn't want to risk the same funky weather! Our Mexican Riviera trip was downright cold & gray & misty....

 

[cruisinluver]

Amlee,

I saw a CC post that someone had just booked the Mariner west coast for early February 2009. So it has to be doing the repo around the Cape sometime between early January and early Feb. There is a pretty big thread going of interested people on the Repo. I know the QM2 took 45 days on its FLL to LAX cruise, so I figure Mariner will do the cruise in segments. I would love the Brasil to Chile portion if that is what they do.

 

[Amlee]

Amlee,

I saw a CC post that someone had just booked the Mariner west coast for early February 2009. So it has to be doing the repo around the Cape sometime between early January and early Feb. There is a pretty big thread going of interested people on the Repo. I know the QM2 took 45 days on its FLL to LAX cruise, so I figure Mariner will do the cruise in segments. I would love the Brasil to Chile portion if that is what they do.

The sailing for the West Coast opened up yesterday for booking. I couldn't find anything on the Repo online, so that is why I called. The lady I talked to had trashed her email and she had to dig it up to to answer my questions. According to the email they will release dates sometime this year for the repo. I figure it will be July or August as that would be around the year and half mark. Brasil to Chile is the portion that I would like to do.
Or the whole 45 days!

 

[kend58]

My first cruise experience was DCL in March 1999 we waited 18 months for that sailing and went though all the delay issues that DCL had getting the ship finished launched and outfitted. On our sailing (before Castaway Club existied) the captain did a meet and greet with the CAT 1, 2 and 3) guests.

He described possible future itineraries (at the time it was only 3 and 4 day with or without land each with 1 stop at CC the list included :
1) 7 day itineraries in the Eastern and Western carribean
2) Special holiday and seasonal itineraries
3) Repo through PC (stressed how the Ship was exactly as big as it can be and have that option still be possible)
4) West Coast sailings to Mexican Rivieria
5) Alaska - yes way back when He said the ships were built to handle Alaska
6) Around the World visting the PORTS nearest each Disney Park

I find it interesting he didn't mention the Med and they are doing that but everything else he mentioned has come true already except Alaska and ARTW

Oh and he also said we plan a fleet and when asked if he meant the already announced sister ship replied "two ships do not constitute a fleet"

All of that was framed as the future of DCL way back in 1999 by our captain so if the Captain is now stating relocation of the Majic and Wonder will occur then IMHO we have new ports of call in our DCL future