Destinations for ships 5 & 6?

[kappaman14]

This is a bit out there, but I'm curious if any Disney cruise historians recall when we found out where the Dream & Fantasy would be stationed. I'm trying to figure out what to do in 2019 (looking for feedback on getting an onboard booking extension in a different thread), and one thought (if I can't get my onboard booking extended from 3/19 to 7/19) was to let my booking expire and then sail at some point that plots my NEW onboard booking to be useful in 2021 for an Alaskan cruise.

Here's where my question comes in. If ship #5 is sailing in 2021, then I could choose that over Alaska. But different stations have different times of year (Europe, Alaska, etc). So if the Dream sailed in 2011, when did we know where it would be stationed (and the same for the other ships)?

Thanks for any help. I know this is just idle speculation, but it passes the time between cruises .

 

[Mushu's Twin]

If I remember correctly the general plans for the dream class ships came out about 2.5 years before they started sailing. These "general plans" were that they would take over for the Magic and Wonder in PC. Most of the crew onboard thought that the Magic would become a world traveling ship. I could see this being a possibility now with the addition of the 2 new ships. I could very easily see them making a year round home port in LA for the wonder and possibly one of the dream class ships.

 

[mmouse37]

I agree with above. It was always stated that the new ships would be home ported in Port Canaveral.

Can't wait for more info on the new ships!!

MJ

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I agree. I think the new ships will take over in PC and the Wonder and one of the Dream class ships will become permanent on the West Coast. I can see the other Dream class ship going to Asia. I'm fairly certain the Magic will continue to sail Europe during the warmer months and I could see the Magic sailing out of San Juan for southern Caribbean itineraries during the winter months.

 

[Quellman]

I found mention of a webcast 29 October 2009 where they stated the Dream would be sailing 3-4 night Bahamas and would have the aquaduck and the Pirates in the Caribbean!




But other than that.....

The Wonder will full time sail out of the West Coast. The Dream will take over from the Magic and sail a mixture from Miami, NYC, and Europe. The Magic will sail to Asia. The Fantasy will sail Bahamas. Ship #5 will sail the Current Fantasy route. Ship #6 will either sail Asia or provide Caribbean support on the alternate itinerary than ship #5 or provide support out of NYC.

Source: WDW Bus driver!

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Source: WDW Bus driver!

Oh, well then, we can take that as absolute fact.

But I thought I read, and I could just be imagining this, that some of the European ports couldn't handle ships the size of the Dream class ships and so those itineraries would have to be served by either the Magic or Wonder. Did I "dream" that up? (pun intended)

 

[Disneymadhouse]

Right now, I don't really mind where the new ships end up. I would just love Magic and Wonder to be switched for the summer season, so that I can go on Wonder to a destination that I want to travel to! We live in the UK so the short flight to Barcelona is ideal, but we've done Magic in the Med twice now!

Claire

 

[GoofyLovingFamily]

It will likely be a given the new ships go to Port Canaveral taking over the Bahamas and Caribbean sailings. I do think Wonder will stay west coast. DCL is trying out Mexican Riviera again. I can see Dream or Fantasy moved to NYC doing the Bahamas and WDW stops cruises.

 

[Dug720]

It will likely be a given the new ships go to Port Canaveral taking over the Bahamas and Caribbean sailings. I do think Wonder will stay west coast. DCL is trying out Mexican Riviera again. I can see Dream or Fantasy moved to NYC doing the Bahamas and WDW stops cruises.

THAT would make me so happy!!!!!

 

[CamColt]

THAT would make me so happy!!!!!

Me too as long as it's in the summer and works with the school vacation schedule!

 

[Dug720]

Me too as long as it's in the summer and works with the school vacation schedule!

There are some that go pretty much year-round (I know if I was interested in the floating boxes I could do RCCL or NCL for Pres Week or Spring Break)...they potentially could station one out of NYC most of the year.

 

[Quellman]

Oh, well then, we can take that as absolute fact.

But I thought I read, and I could just be imagining this, that some of the European ports couldn't handle ships the size of the Dream class ships and so those itineraries would have to be served by either the Magic or Wonder. Did I "dream" that up? (pun intended)

The Carnival Vista weighs almost 2x the Dream and sailed the Med prior to home porting in the US. Granted I don't know the itinerary and how it compares to the Disney Magic itineraries. You may very well be correct for north Europe.

 

[MrKopec]

The Carnival Vista weighs almost 2x the Dream and sailed the Med prior to home porting in the US. Granted I don't know the itinerary and how it compares to the Disney Magic itineraries. You may very well be correct for north Europe.

Disney Dream - 129,690 GT
Carnival Vista - 133,500 GT

 

[ivanp91]

Disney Dream - 129,690 GT
Carnival Vista - 133,500 GT

Yeah, I was gonna say... I saw Carnival Vista in NYC on the day I last debarked the Magic, and it's comparable in size to the Dream class ships. No way is it almost twice the weight.

Harmony of the Seas did some European cruises before repositioning to Florida, maybe the poster was confusing the Vista with that ship. Being an Oasis class, Harmony most certainly is almost twice the tonnage of the Dream.

 

[MrKopec]

Yeah, I was gonna say... I saw Carnival Vista in NYC on the day I last debarked the Magic, and it's comparable in size to the Dream class ships. No way is it almost twice the weight.

Harmony of the Seas did some European cruises before repositioning to Florida, maybe the poster was confusing the Vista with that ship. Being an Oasis class, Harmony most certainly is almost twice the tonnage of the Dream.

Oasis class is 225,000+ GT. They did spend a lot of time in the med before coming over to the USA but did tender on several of the smaller ports.

No reason the Dream class ships couldn't do the same. Would love to do a Northern Europe and Iceland cruise on the Dream or Fantasy.

 

[Quellman]

Disney Dream - 129,690 GT
Carnival Vista - 133,500 GT

Yeah, I was gonna say... I saw Carnival Vista in NYC on the day I last debarked the Magic, and it's comparable in size to the Dream class ships. No way is it almost twice the weight.

Harmony of the Seas did some European cruises before repositioning to Florida, maybe the poster was confusing the Vista with that ship. Being an Oasis class, Harmony most certainly is almost twice the tonnage of the Dream.

!Right. I was looking at the dreams displacement, not tonnage! my fault.

 

[Lesverts]

The new ships are going to be in PC. I think one of the Dream/Fantasy is going to permanently be home ported in Miami.

Disney is not going to reinvent the wheel. No cruise line has a year-round ship at any one port on the West Coast. Disney is not going to do that. You can see where Disney is going to go by looking at the prices of the cruises now. Disney is not going to put ships in places where they are not operating at 95% and above capacity without having to discount or offer price competitive fares like they already have to do with the Transatlantic.

Disney could and will likely have 4 ships within the Atlantic Basin at all times after the new ones come out. The biggest differences I think you will see is that two ships will go to Europe in the summer. One exclusively in the Mediterranean and one in the North Sea/Baltic. This will open up Venice/Dubrovnik/Greece/Kotor/Cyprus. Instead of staying in the Western part of the Mediterranean.

The ships will be used to increase capacity into the Caribbean. Not spread themselves thin to service areas with lower demand. The Caribbean is the bread winner for any cruise line.

 

[MyDisWorld]

We may start hearing something around mid-late 2018. They should be done with ship design around then, and should start construction early 2019 so it's completed for 2021 Maiden voyage. Average build time is 24-30 months after they lay the Keel. So, in classic Disney fashion, "IF" they don't release itinerary details early, we should see booking open up around 16 months prior to the inaugural sailing. If they aim for a Spring first sailing, that puts a release of booking dates and itinerary's at March 2020.

I for one really hope we get some new/more information on the new ships soon. Really excided to see what new unique ideas they come up with.......

 

[Dug720]

I would not fuss about Miami either. I really like Miami! It's not as convenient to me as NYC, but...I won't turn down the chance to go back to Miami.

 

[MyDisWorld]

The ships will be used to increase capacity into the Caribbean. Not spread themselves thin to service areas with lower demand. The Caribbean is the bread winner for any cruise line.

Agreed. Disney's most popular port is also Castaway Cay. They need another Private Island, or they need to put another dock at Castaway Cay. A second Dock on the opposite side of the island would work. They would have separate area's for both ships, so that the current facilities aren't overwhelmed with double the number of people on the island. They would be separated by the forest/vegetation area, so if wouldn't effect the visitors from either ship. Just like having 2 Castaway Cay's, without the cost of buying a new island....