Could this be the last cruise...

[Toulou]

...the WBPC, Panama Canal cruise?? Does anyone have an idea if this is going to be the last one? Thanks.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I thought that when they released the 2022 WBPC then the next releases had no PC sailings at all. Also, with the addition of the Wish & Treasure, we thought maybe there will be no more need to pass through the PC. I was wrong.
They eventually released 2 more PC cruises this year and I doubt they will be the last. We enjoyed it so much last year, we booked again for October.

 

[auntlynne]

If enough people say something, then I say, no, not the last one. It’s why Disney sails to Alaska, Bermuda, Hawaii…

Perhaps when they start doing South America, they could do the Pacific side of that continent.

Yes, I said it. The above destinations were all mentioned years ago at Castaway Club parties - well before they became Disney itineraries. Our last captain dropped this destination in to his chat recently. I strongly believe it will happen. And on the Magic. (Also taking into consideration other cruise lines’ actions).

Let’s chat in a few years…

 

[Toulou]

I thought that when they released the 2022 WBPC then the next releases had no PC sailings at all. Also, with the addition of the Wish & Treasure, we thought maybe there will be no more need to pass through the PC. I was wrong.
They eventually released 2 more PC cruises this year and I doubt they will be the last. We enjoyed it so much last year, we booked again for October.

I'm very glad to hear this...I haven't booked this October yet but I am contemplating it very much clouding up my head these days!! Lol I have yet to cross the canal and really want to add this to my travels! So...Just might see there!

 

[Lillebelle]

I hope they keep doing them, at least every couple years. It's my dream cruise but not in the cards right now with school aged kids...

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I hope they keep doing them, at least every couple years. It's my dream cruise but not in the cards right now with school aged kids...

We've been cruising DCL since 2007. Our kids were 7 and 9. We waitied a long time to be able to relax at the adult pool, visit the adult beach, and sail itineraries that would have caused our kids to miss too much school. Now I miss them sailing with us! The last time was to Norway in 2019.

 

[holula]

I don’t think it will be the last set of PC cruises. At some point they have to retire the Wonder and put another ship in Alaska. Or potentially they may keep the Wonder full time in Australia/NZ or at least extend the season there so she doesn’t go down to do the San Diego Spring cruises, another ship does that.

I was booked on this years but had to cancel because of family stuff, it’s the second time I’ve had to cancel a PC cruise. One day I will get there.

 

[OpieDoodle]

I doubt they will stop having them completely. Its just not realistic. At some point they'll have to cross again. I think its really going to depend on what they end up doing with the West Coast sailings. As of now to me it seems they're experimenting with different markets to see where they best fit. Once they figure that out I'd assume they're going to decide if they need to move additional ships over.

 

[bcwife76]

I hope they keep doing them, at least every couple years. It's my dream cruise but not in the cards right now with school aged kids...

This is us too. With both kids in high school as of September we no longer pull them out (unless it's an occasional day here or there). Was hoping for a PC crossing in about 3 or 4 years so I'm hoping they will offer them in the future.

 

[o&smom]

I hope they keep doing them, at least every couple years. It's my dream cruise but not in the cards right now with school aged kids...

So sorry your school district does not allow your kids to be gone long enough for the cruise. We did our first PC cruise when DS was in 8th grade and DD was in 1st. We figured this was our last opportunity before the start of high school, and we really wanted our kids to experience going through the Panama Canal. We were able to take all of their school work with us, and the kids completed it before we returned. DS ended up transferring to a web academy his Sophomore year, so we were able to book our second in March 2020. We, again took school work with us, but had no school to return to when we finished our cruise. This cruise ended up being the best place we could be for our kids during such a crazy time as life changed due to Covid. We jumped on the chance to book the October cruise on the Magic. She is our favorite and was our first. DD will now be in 8th grade and DS will just have turned 20. This will be our last cruise all together as a family. We are so looking forward to it!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

So sorry your school district does not allow your kids to be gone long enough for the cruise. We did our first PC cruise when DS was in 8th grade and DD was in 1st. We figured this was our last opportunity before the start of high school, and we really wanted our kids to experience going through the Panama Canal. We were able to take all of their school work with us, and the kids completed it before we returned. DS ended up transferring to a web academy his Sophomore year, so we were able to book our second in March 2020. We, again took school work with us, but had no school to return to when we finished our cruise. This cruise ended up being the best place we could be for our kids during such a crazy time as life changed due to Covid. We jumped on the chance to book the October cruise on the Magic. She is our favorite and was our first. DD will now be in 8th grade and DS will just have turned 20. This will be our last cruise all together as a family. We are so looking forward to it!

On our WBPC in March 2022, the table next to us was a mom with her HS-senior daughter. They said one week of the cruise fell over spring break and she only needs a few classes to graduate so she wasn’t missing much.
They were also staying a few days in DLR after it ended in San Diego.

 

[JM_97]

It won't be on the Wonder. It seems that she is now the designated West coast ship, and Disney also has her doing more exotic destinations. I could maybe see them sending the Magic or Fantasy over there seasonally at some point.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

It won't be on the Wonder. It seems that she is now the designated West coast ship, and Disney also has her doing more exotic destinations. I could maybe see them sending the Magic or Fantasy over there seasonally at some point.

Yes, our WBPC in October is on the Magic. She was our first and still is our favorite.

 

[DCLMP]

If enough people say something, then I say, no, not the last one. It’s why Disney sails to Alaska, Bermuda, Hawaii…

Perhaps when they start doing South America, they could do the Pacific side of that continent.

Yes, I said it. The above destinations were all mentioned years ago at Castaway Club parties - well before they became Disney itineraries. Our last captain dropped this destination in to his chat recently. I strongly believe it will happen. And on the Magic. (Also taking into consideration other cruise lines’ actions).

Let’s chat in a few years…

What time of year do ships sail to South America?

 

[chuff88]

I'll also jump in on hoping they keep doing these in some capacity. I'm finally in a job where I have the flexibility to take the kind of time off necessary for this kind of cruise, and I was hoping to do it in 2025 or 2026 (would do it sooner but the travel is all booked up through the end of next year). I also would love to do a Transatlantic, but I think the PC will be an easier sell for my mom, at least initially.

 

[auntlynne]

What time of year do ships sail to South America?

With just a (very) quick look at Holland America’s cruises, they offer November - April. So, summer in the Southern Hemisphere. (Or the other way to consider it, winter up here ).

 

[auntlynne]

Fun Fact: when DCL started, their plan was to do 3- and 4-night cruises in the Bahamas. Period. (Per Captain Jonathan on the Magic, May 2023).

What we see on the Fall 2024 schedule is not the future of Disney cruising - it is what they are doing those few months. And most of us realize, they aren’t big on sharing info, and while some things stay the same, they do slowly change it up.

 

[DCLMP]

With just a (very) quick look at Holland America’s cruises, they offer November - April. So, summer in the Southern Hemisphere. (Or the other way to consider it, winter up here ).

That's what I figured. It doesn't coincide with the US school year. I'm not sure they would sell if Disney cruised to South America in the Winter. Most people won't pull their kids out of school for more than a week. Maybe Christmas break and Spring break would work.

 

[auntlynne]

That's what I figured. It doesn't coincide with the US school year. I'm not sure they would sell if Disney cruised to South America in the Winter. Most people won't pull their kids out of school for more than a week. Maybe Christmas break and Spring break would work.

I view these possible cruises as I do the PC (even Alaska): target audience of people with money and free time. Makes me wonder when cruising with children even became a thing.

 

[DCLMP]

I view these possible cruises as I do the PC (even Alaska): target audience of people with money and free time. Makes me wonder when cruising with children even became a thing.

Children are a thing on Disney. People with money and no children have a lot of options. They don't need Disney to sail to South America to take a cruise to South America.

Disney can fill a couple of long Panama cruises every year with old people that started cruising Disney when their kids were young, but that's not their target. Those are also repositioning cruises so the cruises will go regardless of how many are onboard. I'm not sure why you bring up Alaska those are Summer cruises full of kids,

I've done a few of their attempts at off-season unique cruises... let's just say I've gotten really good discounts on them.